FOOTBALL
AFL EXPORTS
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE Gold Coast Suns will play finals for the first time in its club’s history.
After defeating Essendon in the post-home-and-away fixture, the Suns remained in the top eight and eliminated Western Bulldogs from contention.
In a 23.15 (153) to 8.10 (58) demolishing of the decimated, and most likely switched-off, Bombers at People First Stadium, Gold Coast on Wednesday, August 28, the Suns clinched finals for the first time since they entered the AFL as an expansion club in 2011.
The AFL rescheduled Gold Coast and Essendon’s matchup after they were supposed to play in Opening Round, postponed to the end of the season due to the tropical Cyclone Alfred in Queensland earlier this year.
While pressure mounted on the young squad after ruining their top four chances by losing to Port Adelaide by four points just days prior, pushing the Suns into ninth ahead of their last game, they got to work early.
Up by 40 points at the end of quarter time and then launching to a 10-goal lead throughout the second half, Gold Coast refused to let up, only needing to beat the Bombers by five goals or more to leapfrog Hawthorn into seventh position.
The Suns now play Fremantle at Optus Stadium, Perth in the Elimination Final on Saturday night, September 6 in week one of finals.
Moe’s Bailey Humphrey returned for Gold Coast to face the Bombers after two weeks off with a knee injury.
Humphrey finished 15 disposals and a goal, but was tactically subbed out in the second half.
After a few weeks out of the side and as the sub, Fish Creek’s and former Moe junior footballer Sam Flanders was in fine form with 20 touches and five marks.
Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth was also at his best in the do-or-die match, finishing with 17 disposals and two goals.
As one of the longest tenured Suns, drafted in 2016, Ainsworth will play finals for the first time in his career, the same for Humphrey and Flanders.
Of those who played against the Bombers in the Suns’ final regular season game, only three players have played finals matches in John Noble, Ben Long, and Daniel Rioli.
Gold Coast have the strongest link to Gippsland and Latrobe Valley with five local exports on their list, including Heyfield’s Asher Eastham and Maffra’s Max Knobel alongside the aforementioned.
Both Eastham and Knobel haven’t managed games for the Suns this season after being picked up in the rookie draft late last year, but the Heyfield first-year player has managed a full season in the VFL, while the Maffra ruckman suffered a season-ending foot injury last month.
THE last round of the 2025 home-and-away season still left time for significant changes on the AFL ladder.
Collingwood were at risk of falling to as low as eighth, but held on to a top four finish by defeating Melbourne, 11.16 (82) to 11.10 (76) on Friday night (August 22) at the MCG.
The Magpies were given a scare in the middle stages of the second half, but broke ahead late to avoid a four-game losing streak.
In his 200th game, Traralgon’s Tim Membrey didn’t impact the scoreboard, but had eight touches and two marks for Collingwood.
The Magpies will play minor premier Adelaide Crows on Thursday night (September 4) at Adelaide Oval to move straight into a home preliminary final.
Hawthorn missed out on a double chance after succumbing to Brisbane, 11.23 (89) to 11.13 (79) at the Gabba on Sunday night (August 24).
The Hawks started off well before the Lions finally broke into a lead.
Morwell’s Changkuoth Jiath finished with 13 disposals and five tackles for Hawthorn.
The Hawks play Saturday afternoon (September 6) against GWS at ENGIE Stadium, Sydney in the elimination final.
