Gold Coast season 2025 preview: Callum Dick breaks down where the Suns sit

Is 2025 finally the year? In Damien Hardwick’s second season on the Gold Coast, finals will once again be the expectation for the Suns. CALLUM DICK previews their season.

Where do the Suns sit?

Is this finally the year it comes together? The Suns have continued to show flashes of shine across this decade, yet still haven’t played finals in their brief history in the AFL.

What needs to happen for them to break through in Damien Hardwick’s second season at the Gold Coast?

Bodhi Uwland was a great find in 20924 for the Suns. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024

Bodhi Uwland began 2024 with just three senior games to his name and ended the season as runner-up in the Suns’ best and fairest. The Suns Academy product steadily built himself into one of the most reliable medium-defenders in the competition. Damien Hardwick handed him tough roles on the competition’s best small forwards and he was rarely ever beaten. In a team built on first-round draft talent, this rookie draft pick-up shone as brightly as anybody.

INS AND OUTS

IN: Cooper Bell (No.49 draft pick), Asher Eastham (Rookie Draft), Zak Evans (Category B rookie), Lachlan Gulbin (Category B rookie), Elliott Himmelberg (free agent, Adelaide), Max Knobel (Rookie Draft), Leo Lombard (No.9 draft pick, Academy), John Noble (trade, Collingwood), Daniel Rioli (trade, Richmond)

OUT: Rory Atkins (trade, Port Adelaide), Sandy Brock (delisted), Levi Casboult (retired), Sam Day (delisted), Brandon Ellis (retired), Oskar Faulkhead (delisted), Jack Lukosius (trade, Port Adelaide), Darcy Macpherson (delisted), Jack Mahony (delisted), Hewago Oea (delisted), Will Rowlands (delisted), James Tsitas (delisted)

WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?

David Swallow. Now the last remaining inaugural Sun on the list, the former skipper saw his role diminish with Hardwick at the helm last season. Started as the sub in eight of his 20 games and now aged 32, could struggle to hold down a senior spot as the club’s young talent progresses.

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT

Alex Sexton, Asher Eastham, Brayden Fiorini, Connor Budarick, David Swallow, Jy Farrar, Malcolm Rosas, Matt Rowell, Max Knobel, Nick Holman, Sam Collins, Sean Lemmens, Tom Berry

POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?

With Jack Lukosius gone the stage is set for Jed Walter to make the sophomore leap and become a key presence inside 50 alongside Ben King. Walter has all the tools to be a future Coleman Medallist but he struggled to read the game in his first season. The Suns coaching staff noted that early and have gone to work educating him on the finer aspects of key forward craft. There will be much bigger expectations on the former No. 3 draft pick this season.

It’s a big year for Jed Walter. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

BURNING QUESTION

Will the Suns play finals? For the past five years it has felt like the Suns are on the cusp of making the jump into the top eight, only to fall short in the dying stages each season. They aggressively targeted Rioli and Noble in the trade period and have brought in another top-tier talent in Lombard – 2025 has to be the year they make good on all the promise, right?

Originally published as Gold Coast season 2025 preview: Callum Dick breaks down where the Suns sit