AFL 2023: Gold Coast must end Port Adelaide’s historic winning streak to keep season alive

Stuart Dew’s position has been called into question – but his players have an opportunity to change the narrative against Port Adelaide. And it all starts in one key area.

Touk Miller may be back but Gold Coast will need more than just its superstar skipper to defy two historic trends and keep its finals hopes alive.

Not since their maiden AFL victory came against Port Adelaide way back in round five of 2011 has Gold Coast tasted success, home or away, against the Power.

Port Adelaide’s 13-straight wins over the Suns is the most lopsided head-to-head in the AFL. It underlines a decade of dominance, irrespective of the seasonal standings of the two sides.

Touk Miller is a massive inclusion for the Suns who travel to play Port Adelaide on Saturday. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

In round 15 last year, the Suns came within two points of ending the streak when they pushed Port all the way at Adelaide Oval.

But the 2023 version is a different beast.

Ken Hinkley’s side is revelling in a club-record 12-game winning streak and just snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Essendon last weekend.

The Suns meanwhile were made to look “second rate” – co-captain Jarrod Witts’ own words – against Collingwood the same day.

Hinkley’s position was under the microscope entering season 2023. Now he is tipped to earn a contract extension in coming months having piloted the Power to a likely top-four finish.

Meanwhile Stuart Dew finds himself in a familiar position, having to answer questions about his coaching future.

Gold Coast must win six of its final eight matches to be a chance of playing in September. It’s the same scenario that confronted the Suns last season.

The key difference now is their injury list. Only Joel Jeffrey remains unavailable.

Gold Coast is running at a near-clean bill of health now that Miller is back in the midfield mix and there are no excuses to put in the type of performance they produced against Collingwood last weekend.

Right or wrong, another shocker will push Dew’s position even further into the spotlight – and the Suns’ post-season hopes to the brink.

Stuart Dew’s coaching future has again been put under the microscope. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

They were smashed at clearance early against Collingwood, trailing 22-10 at halftime. By the time they arrested the slide, the margin was already 10 goals.

Witts is one of the best tap rucks in the business and it’s there the Suns must wrestle an early advantage in Adelaide.

With Scott Lycett and Brynn Teakle both out injured, Port has turned to seven-gamer Sam Hayes for the ruck duties on Saturday.

Witts boasts four centimetres and 150 games on his ruck rival and his ability to give the Suns first use of the footy will be crucial.

Port ranks 16th in hitout differential but fourth for clearances. The Suns sit third in both.

After his midfield was outmuscled by the Blues, Dew put it on the likes of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson to lift the standard against Hawthorn the following week – and they did.

With Miller back, the Suns’ star trio will no doubt have the fire lit under them again after the Collingwood calamity.

Jarrod Witts will be pivotal in the ruck against Port. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Their carrot? Ending two historic winning streaks and – more importantly – putting the Suns’ finals fate back in their own hands.

As Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans put it this week: “if we get stuck in the weekly cycle we’ll be champions one week and chumps the next.”

The Suns need to be champions this week. For their sake and their coach’s.

Faced with perhaps the hardest trip in footy this season, the playing group has an opportunity to ease the pressure on Dew by doing what no team has been able to in more than three months - knock off Port.