Darcy Macpherson’s switch to defensive set to prolong his AFL career with Gold Coast Suns

Darcy Macpherson’s defensive shift has put him in the box seat to extend his contract with Suns powerbrokers detailing their desire to retain him beyond his current deal.

Darcy Macpherson’s defensive shift has put him in the box seat to extend his contract with Suns powerbrokers detailing their desire to retain him beyond his current deal.

Macpherson has been a revelation since switching from a small pressure forward to halfback in 2023, having a huge influence in all of Gold Coast’s 12 games of the season so far.

The impact of the 25-year-old, who has spent years bouncing in and out of the team, has been so vast that Suns football manager Wayne Campbell says the club would look to keep him well beyond his current deal that runs out at the end of 2024.

“Definitely. He takes care of his body really well and as long as his form stands up I can’t see why not,” Campbell said.

Darcy Macpherson has thrived since moving down back. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“He has a few years left in him I would have thought and we would love to have him.”

Macpherson has played 84 games for Gold Coast since being drafted by the Suns ahead of the 2016 AFL season.

He made a name for himself for his ability to apply defensive pressure and help lock the ball inside the team’s forward 50m but the form of teammate Nick Holman, who plays a similar style, has largely kept Macpherson playing in the reserves.

But with the likes of Connor Budarick out injured and Lachie Weller coming into the season on the back of a long injury lay-off Suns coach Stuart Dew and Macpherson used the pre-season to prepare the latter for the positional shift.

“He took on that shift down back and played tremendous footy,” Campbell said.

Darcy Macpherson of the Suns gives a footy to a young fan during the 2023 AFL Round 12 match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium on June 3, 2023 in Darwin, Australia. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He wins one-on-ones and can get high possessions. He has learnt to use the ball better too and is the ultimate competitor. We are just wrapped with his year.”

Campbell said it was an easy conversation to have in the pre-season despite the significance of the move for Macpherson.

“He is such a good person. He has really high integrity and wants the best for the club and he always understood that,” Campbell said.

“He just got to work on what the coaches wanted him to work on and came in with really open eyes and optimism.”

The Suns will play Carlton this Sunday at the MCG while the reserves will play the Northern Bullants in Round 13 of the VFL on the same day at Genis Steel Oval.

Fellow VFL team Southport Sharks will celebrate Fraser Thurlow’s 100th senior game when they play GWS at Tom Wills Oval on Saturday.

“It has been an awesome journey and I am so honoured to be able to play 100 senior games for this great club,” Thurlow said.

“I grew up watching the senior football team train and play when I was a young kid, so I am super proud to firstly play senior football here, but now to play 100 games.”