Jack Lukosius declares intention to stay at Gold Coast after five-goal haul

Jack Lukosius starred against Geelong on Thursday night slotting five goals. Could he return home to South Australia come trade time? The star Sun and his coach have their say.

Jack Lukosius. Picture: Getty Images

Jack Lukosius has reaffirmed his desire to remain on the Gold Coast after a stunning five-goal haul in the Suns’ 64-point thumping of Geelong in Darwin on Thursday night.

Lukosius, 23, had the game in his hands at quarter-time after a three-goal opening quarter that could have been even bigger if not for some gettable missed opportunities.

He ended the night with the fourth five-goal game of his career and third in the Top End.

It punctuated a rollercoaster two months for the South Australian that saw him moved down back by new coach Damien Hardwick despite booting 39 goals as a permanent forward last season.

Reports after the role swap suggested Lukosius was frustrated by the decision to take him out of the forward line and that rival clubs could see him as gettable at the trade table despite his contract running to the end of 2026.

Jack Lukosius (left) celebrates a goal against the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

That possibility was immediately shut down by Hardwick, who last week also conceded he had made a mistake with the backline experiment and called Lukosius to promise he would return to the forward 50 when the Suns flew to Darwin.

After going goalless against the Kangaroos in a comfortable victory last Saturday, he exploded back into form and took the game by the throat in the first half when it was in the balance.

“I’m very happy here,” Lukosius declared.

“I’ve got so much I want to achieve in my career and especially here, so I’m happy.”

Lukosius revealed the quick call with Hardwick set his mind at ease after an admittedly “challenging period” of adjusting to a new role he never saw coming.

“We had a short break between games and didn’t train much, so he gave me a call midweek and just said, ‘Sorry mate, I was wrong. I liked what I saw on the weekend, let’s give it another go’. Simple as that.

“It was a challenging period, just with the mindset of it all. I had my mind clearly set on one thing and the goals I wanted to achieve – but that’s footy, it can all change pretty quickly.

“I just had to stay driven and work out a new process that was going to work because I had to keep playing good footy, clearly. That had to happen.

Lukosius is keen to stay at the Suns. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s been a challenging last couple of months but hopefully it will be for the better.”

Lukosius’ five-goal haul contributed to the Suns’ biggest-ever score in club history.

It punctuated a week in which they outscored North Melbourne and Geelong by a combined 264-152.

The victory catapulted the Suns into sixth on the ladder after a healthy +7.1% boost to their percentage.

“I think it shows when we play our best footy we’re going to be pretty hard to stop,” Lukosius said.

“It won’t be 160-odd every week, but I think the style of moving the ball fast through the middle with hands and getting the ball in deep is the style we want to play whether we win kicking 80 points or 160 points.”

Gold Coast plays Carlton at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.