Nick Holman lifts Suns to crucial Darwin win in 100th match
Stepping onto Darwin’s TIO Stadium for his 100th game, Nick Holman’s journey lifted his teammates to a vital win. Read the match report.
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The incredible journey of Nick Holman’s football career inspired the Gold Coast Suns in his 100th AFL game.
The Suns hung on in a nailbiting finish to claim a crucial seven-point win over the Dogs at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
The 27-year-old booted two of his side’s 11 goals, laid 10 tackles, had five score involvements and 12 touches to help his side to a gutsy win to stay in touch of a finals berth.
Suns coach Stuart Dew labelled Holman the “heart and soul” of the footy club post-game and said the team were fuelled by the challenges the former Carlton footballer has been through.
The utility was delisted in 2015 after playing 76 games with the Blues and had worked his way back into the AFL system three years later after impressing in the SANFL.
Holman then suffered a career-threatening perforated bowel injury in 2021 which left him hospitalised for several days.
The challenges didn’t end there for the resilient Sun who dealt with the shock passing of his mother, Kylie, from a heart attack 18 months ago.
Dew was full of praise for Holman following a game where the forward scored a vital goal in the third term to put his side up by 17 points.
“What he has been through, he is just a fantastic human,” Dew said.
“Selfless bloke who has had a fair bit of trauma, he lost his best mate and mum.
“What he went through, even that is just the tip of the iceberg with what he went through.
“He has been one of our best recruits for sure.
“I think he is the heart and soul of the footy club.
“And no doubt tonight, the boys wanted to play well for him and I think good footy clubs get that done.
“He is a star, I’m glad we got him.”
Dew went on to praise the forward’s consistency.
“Always does (have a good game),” he said.
“When you see that number seven walking down the race, you know what you are going to get,” he said.
“We will take it every day of the week.”
Holman was also crucial earlier in the game when he scored his side’s first of five goals in a row, which led to an impressive 22-point halftime advantage.
“It’s a very proud (moment),” Holman said about his 100th game post-game on Channel 7.
“I got my family and friends here so it is a good time to reflect so I will enjoy a beer with them I reckon.
As part of the jersey Holman wore for the milestone game, he had his mother’s initials sewn on his jersey.
“She is (here with me tonight),” he said.
“Kicked a couple of goals, they were for her and my family.
“I just love all the support so thanks to everyone.”
The Kyabram footballer won a senior premiership with the club in 2013 and also played for the Murray Bushrangers before being drafted later that year.
Holman was recruited by the Suns at pick 19 in the 2018 rookie draft.
‘Going to be special’: Long to play in Darwin for first time since 2016
As a St Mary’s junior Ben Long never thought he would return to TIO Stadium as a fully-fledged AFL player, but this weekend he will be doing exactly that for the Gold Coast Suns.
The 25-year-old defender hasn’t played in the Top End since he last pulled on a Saints jumper back in 2016 but a pre-season trade request set him up with the chance to return home.
Long was first drafted to St Kilda in 2016 as pick number 25 after a successful VFL season in which he played in Footscray’s premiership winning team.
He went on to play 79 games for the Saints, with his career-best match incidentally coming on his 25th birthday, in which he made 27 disposals and kicking a goal against the Sydney Swans.
But at the end of the 2022 season he made the decision to move to the Gold Coast to link up with other Territory players and get the chance to play in Darwin more often.
“It’s been awesome, the club has been great with the players and staff making settling into the club so much easier,” Long said.
“Getting to play in Darwin was a massive part of why I requested to come here, the club plays two games up here every year and that’s something special for us Territory mob.
“Looking back as a junior playing for St Mary’s at TIO Stadium I wouldn’t have thought I would be able to be back there playing for the Gold Coast playing in the AFL.
“It’s going to be special running out in front of friends and family.”
The move has also brought Long into a club which now holds a strong Territory connection with eight players on the AFL list having links to the NT.
Among them are Malcolm Rosas and Joel Jeffrey who will be running out alongside Long in the match against the Bulldogs.
“Coming into training each week or playing on the weekend while having a Territory connection with other players is awesome.
“We all know each other, they’re all great.”
And while heading out onto TIO Stadium for the first time in AFL colours will be a special moment for Long, he also can’t wait to get out into the community.
In last year’s visit the Gold Coast Suns’ playing group travelled to the Tiwi Islands and Kakadu where they interacted with kids from a large number of remote communities.
“It’s massive to give back to the community, we love our footy in the Territory and the communities live and breathe it, so to support them and the up and coming kids is great,” Long said.
The Suns’ goal of making finals for the first time in their history is still alive, with some impressive results coming against top teams.
But the focus for the whole squad now is on beating the Bulldogs and Adelaide to keep their winning run at TIO Stadium alive.
“We’ve been close with other teams, we’re going well and tested a few top teams out there,” Long said.
“We know what we’re capable of and it’s just about putting those wins on the board and as we come close to finals it will give us a good chance to push because that’s what we’re aiming for.
“We’ve got two tough teams up in Darwin but the club has had a good win rate playing up there and we’re looking forward to showing what we’re made of in front of our fans.”
‘Dream come true’: Johnston embraces chance to play on home soil
Watching AFL games at TIO Stadium pushed Lloyd Johnston to head for the top, and for him it’s a “dream come true” to return home in the Gold Coast Suns colours.
The 2021-22 Rising Star was always seen as a standout Territory talent when he took on the best the NTFL had to offer and came out on top.
And there were no complaints when the young rebounding half-back from Wanderers was picked for the 2022 NT rep side which took on Woodville-West Torrens.
When the Suns visited for their Darwin double-header in 2022 he was picked to train with the AFL side and it was only a matter of time before he found himself selected in the Rookie Draft.
Now he has started to cement his place in the VFL side, which sits second on the ladder with only one loss to their name, against Werribee in Round 9.
“I’ve taken this opportunity on with both hands,” Johnston said
“And to be in a VFL club which is winning is really good, I’m loving it.
“There’s a lot more structure down here compared to playing in the NTFL and there’s a lot more really good players down here.
“When I first got here I didn’t know what I was doing, I was just trying to play my own way with my own game.
“But my development since then into how to play in a VFL or AFL system has been really good as I learned the structure and where to place myself.”
Johnston said it was challenging adjusting to his new home on the coast, but said the club as well as the other Territory players had been really supportive.
He shares a house with fellow former Muk Muk Joel Jeffrey and the Territory-linked Jy Farrer who have both helped boost his confidence.
“It’s been challenging adjusting to the new environment, but having the Territory boys and the club in support has helped a lot,” Johnston said.
“They’re really good at telling me home will always be there and giving me speeches I use to motivate myself.”
But more than anything he’s excited to return to the NT in the Gold Coast jumper knowing he will be playing after it was announced the VFL match against Footscray would be the curtain raiser.
As a kid he grew up admiring AFL players and how they got to play in front of massive crowds, and now he hopes to be an inspiration to another young Territorian himself.
“When I found out we would be playing in the Territory I was so excited,” Johnston said.
“Doesn’t matter whether it’s playing VFL or AFL, just to be playing back on home soil at this level is a dream come true.
“When I used to watch them come up to Darwin I got goosebumps, I just wanted to be playing out there with them or against them myself, that’s one of the reasons I’m here today.
“Having been a boy who had AFL players encourage me and now being in this role is really good, I would love to one day have a kid inspired because of what my team did.”
Suns footballer ‘stoked’ with Darwin opportunity
Territory-born AFL footballer Sandy Brock was “stoked” he will return to his hometown following the confirmation of a VFL curtain-raiser to the blockbuster Suns-Bulldogs match at TIO Stadium on Saturday.
Brock, 20, who has regularly played in the Suns reserves side since joining the club last year, said he was excited to be able to represent the club in front of close friends and family.
“It’s been a while since I have been up there, probably since Christmas,” Brock said.
“And being able to go up there with the team playing in front of friends and family, I am just stoked.”
The former Palmerston NTFL footballer has his mum, grandparents, uncles, aunties and most of his school friends living in the Territory.
This publication understands the Suns rehabilitation group would also make the trip to the Territory to remain together as an entire playing list.
The key defender said he was embracing the four-year partnership the Suns had established with the NT in 2019 which included a Suns home game in Darwin at least once every season.
The Territory has also been the Suns Talent Academy Zone where talented local footballers have been taking part in development and pathway programs.
Brock said the club’s relationship with the Top End was “really good” and saw the Suns as the Territory’s AFL team.
The emerging footballer was the third Territorian to join the Suns since the club launched its partnership with the NT Government and AFL in 2019.
‘It would be a dream come true’: Katherine-born AFL gun could play 100th game in hometown
Gold Coast Suns footballer Jed Anderson could play his 100th AFL game in front of friends and family in Darwin if he is called up to the senior side in a fortnight’s time.
The 29-year-old midfielder currently sits on 99 AFL games and will need to play another week in the VFL before receiving a senior call up for one of the Suns two games in Darwin to enable the special occasion.
Anderson was born 271km southeast of Darwin in the town of Katherine and moved to the city in his childhood years before beginning his AFL career.
The former North Melbourne footballer, who has returned to full fitness following a hamstring injury, said it would be pleasing to play his 100th game in the Top End.
“Had a few hiccups and stuff at the start of the year so it took me a bit to get my body right so stuck on 99,” Anderson said.
“It would be huge for myself and my family to get a 100 and to do it in Darwin would be a dream come true.
“To crack a ton and to play in front of everyone in the Territory; I would be so wrapped to do that.”
Anderson had 22 disposals, four marks and six tackles in his first game back from a hamstring injury which has interrupted his start to the season.
The former NTFL Darwin Buffalo said he was extra motivated by the fact that he could play the milestone in front of his hometown.
“I am trying very hard to get some good form in and really push my case for Stewy,” he said.
“I am really determined to get my body right and to play some good football.
“Once I’m out there on the field, it seems like its (body) playing very well.
“I am excited to get up there and if I am in the AFL or VFL, just getting up there and getting out to the community and enjoying playing while I can.”
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