Gold Coast Suns go down 117-89 to GWS in Mount Barker

When Damien Hardwick became Gold Coast coach he said that 80 per cent of the Suns’ first premiership side was already in the building, they may not be there yet, but the formula seems apparent.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Damien Hardwick, Senior Coach of the Suns addresses his players at water time during the 2024 AFL Round 04 match between the Gold Coast SUNS and GWS GIANTS at Adelaide Hills - Mt Barker on April 07, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

When Damien Hardwick became Gold Coast coach he declared that 80 per cent of the Suns’ first premiership side was already in the building.

The foundations of that first flag are starting to show, just four games into the season.

While the Suns couldn’t just get over the line against premiership contenders GWS on Sunday in Mount Barker, it was a performance for three quarters that should give fans and Hardwick a lot of optimism about the future.

“We are not quite there yet but that is what we desire to be,” he said.

“I think so (he is seeing the blueprint for the Suns to become a good side), we saw the three debutants come in and they looked very, very good at various stages.”

It’s a future where Sam Flanders is the all-important creative spark off half-back.

Where Jack Lukosius’ immaculate field kicking is best used building from defence.

Where Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Ben King give them a three-headed monster of a forward line that has height, speed and pressure.

Damien Hardwick’s Suns remain a work in progress. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Where Mac Andrew intercepts everything down back, but doesn’t turn the ball over.

Where Sam Clohesy is a player you can depend on, if his debut is any indication.

Add this to the powerful midfield of Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell the Suns boast, and the future looks bright on the Gold Coast.

“No matter what happens here today I think there is a bit of a shudder going through the competition with what they are seeing with the Gold Coast,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy.

“Prior to seeing this talent on display I’m thinking they aren’t making the eight but the future is looking bright as they said it would.

“When you have talent like this it only takes them a couple of years to get things cracking.”

After their disappointing showing in Ballarat against the Western Bulldogs in Round 2, Hardwick swung the changes with seven outs.

Three of the inclusions were debutants – Read, Clohesy and Will Graham – while Andrew at 20 and Bailey Humphrey at 19 also returned.

David Swallow at 31 as the starting substitute summed up the approach Hardwick would take as he looks to build something special.

The Suns couldn’t match GWS when it counted. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But there’s still some way for the Suns to go.

While the Suns were right in the mix for a big upset for most of the day on Sunday, the Giants were just too good when it counted.

The Suns seemed like they had to fight for every goal, and when the going got tough they couldn’t take their chances and the Giants did.

The Giants lifted their pressure and the Suns couldn’t go with them.

After the game Hardwick noted that what the Giants did well, such as with their damaging half-backs Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash, was what the Suns were aspiring to as they look to take the step.

Walter and Read in their second and first games respectively had their moments against the Giants’ star key defending pairing of Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley.

But importantly for Hardwick, they would have learnt a lot from their Gather Round outing.

They might be 2-2 but the future is looking a lot brighter for Suns.

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns go down 117-89 to GWS in Mount Barker