Despite being all but guaranteed to make an inaugural finals appearance in 2025, the Gold Coast Suns’ run to a premiership may have to be done the hard way, after a disappointing 35-point loss to the GWS Giants.
The Suns were one of the favourites to finish top four and secure a double chance due to their friendly fixture in the run home, but Saturday’s loss to the Giants may force them to win four straight if they are to become the second Queensland team in a row to win a flag.
A top four spot could very well be decided on percentage, with the Suns’ currently owning a worse percentage than Adelaide, Geelong, Collingwood and Hawthorn - all fellow top four contenders.
A dejected Damien Hardwick lamented his side’s performance following the defeat.
“It was as poor as we’ve played for a long period of time,” he said post-game.
“It was disappointing, we were just beaten in all facets of the game.
“There’s just so many things that we just didn’t get right today.”
Hardwick was confident in his team’s ability to bounce back though, saying simply, “We’ll respond.”
In a game that was built to be one of the biggest of the round, the Suns were outclassed on their home deck despite controlling hitouts and clearances.
Gold Coast are still technically a chance to miss finals, but would likely need to shockingly lose both of their final matches to miss out on September, an unlikely proposition given their run home.
The Suns have the struggling Port Adelaide next Friday night, before their rescheduled clash with a depleted Essendon side wraps up the home-and-away season the following Wednesday.