Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick makes honest admission on 2024 season

Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick has made a frank admission on his performance as a coach in 2024 and why it is set to drive the team forward this year.

Damien Hardwick, Senior Coach of the Suns during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at People First Stadium on February 03, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Gold Coast Suns head coach Damien Hardwick has admitted he “did not play his moments that well” as a coach during his first season in the Sunshine State.

With a major focus on turning his side’s poor away record around, Hardwick revealed the team had emphasised ‘playing their moments’ and developed a philosophy of “anywhere, anytime”.

“There’s just moments in games, the very nature of our game is combative,” Hardwick said.

“And I think at various stages last year and this goes for me as a coach as well, I didn’t play my moments in the coaches’ box that well.

“Sometimes our players on ground they just had moments if they could have back, they’d deal with better.

“That’s the game of AFL footy these days, we saw a great game of footy (on Thursday night between Richmond and Carlton) where a side grabbed their moments and then another side that probably just missed a couple of those moments.

“It’s the nature of the AFL industry, the side that plays those moments better is generally the side that comes on top.

“We’ve only got to look to our neighbours up north in Brisbane, they had an outstanding season based off moments.

“We’ve just got to make sure we nail ours.”

Hardwick remained unfazed by the disruptions his side has faced due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred with the Opening Round clash with Essendon postponed and training sessions impacted.

Instaead, the Suns coach hopes to use this as an opportunity to inspire his side to put in a strong performance for the Gold Coasters who were severely impacted by the weather event.

“The one thing about human nature is we do seem to flock together and help each other out,” he said.

“The passing around of generators and litres of milk and bread and making sure everyone was safe in and around my neighbourhood. I’m sure it happened throughout the Gold Coast and the hinterland especially.

“I think that’s the one thing we see is the great stories that come to SES workers, council workers, all those people that are part of the clean up is really important.

“Hopefully as a footy club we can go over west and get a win for those people because they really deserve something for a pat on the back.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick makes honest admission on 2024 season