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Gold Coast Suns finally taste victory, coach reflects on tough season

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Gold Coast Suns secured a much-needed victory against GWS, ending a long winless streak.
  • Coach Damien Hardwick described the season as feeling like a "freight train coming the other way" despite glimpses of light.
  • The win was significant not only for the Suns but also for hindering their rivals, the Giants, in the AFL season.

For the Gold Coast Suns, the word "Finally" seemed to capture the mood after their hard-fought win against GWS at Manuka Oval. This victory marked their first since May 15, a period during which their initial hopes of a deep finals run, having sat fourth on the ladder, had significantly diminished.

As the season progressed and the nights grew colder, the Suns' aspirations faded. By early July, a top-four finish was out of reach, and two weeks later, their finals hopes were hanging by a thread. By the end of the month, even wildcard spots were no longer a possibility.

Coach Damien Hardwick reflected on the challenging season, quoting Metallica: "sometimes you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a freight train coming the other way. That's how it's felt this year. That's the reality of it." Despite the season's outcome, Hardwick and his players were visibly elated by the win.

sometimes you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a freight train coming the other way. That's how it's felt this year. That's the reality of it.

— Damien HardwickDescribing the team's difficult season.

Suns star Matt Rowell told ABC Sport, "It's been... it's been a while. The boys were really hungry for a win today and I thought we brought the spirit and it was great to sing that song again." This win was crucial, not just for the Suns to regain momentum, but also for practically ending the season for their expansion rivals, the Giants.

Both teams now look towards 2027 with the hope that lessons learned from a difficult 2026 season will pave the way for future success. However, understanding what went wrong this year is paramount for the Gold Coast Suns, especially for coach Hardwick, who faces one of the most demanding roles in elite football. His tenure with the Suns follows a highly credentialed career, including three premierships with the Tigers.

It's been … it's been a while. The boys were really hungry for a win today and I thought we brought the spirit and it was great to sing that song again.

— Matt RowellSpeaking to ABC Sport after the win over GWS.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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