Season 2026 - Gold Coast

[Allblack]

Gold Coast

Coach – Damien Hardwick

2025 –
Points For – 4th
Points Against – 5th

Top 5 Best and Fairest

1. Matt Rowell
2. Noah Anderson
3. Touk Miller
4. Bailey Humphrey
5. Sam Collins

2025 Rising Star Noms

Ethan Read (Rnd 21)

Ins – JUH, Christian Petracca, Beau Addinsall, Koby Coulson, Zeke Uwland, Dylan Patteron, Jai Murray, Avery Thomas

Outs – Ben Ainsworth, Thomas Berry, Connor Budarik, Brayden Fiorini, Sam Flanders, Ben Jepson, Lloyd Johnston, Max Knobel, Sean Lemmens, Malcolm Rosas, Alex Sexton, David Swallow

My Prediction

The team no one really cares about had it’s best ever season last year. It feels like they have filled their top end talent even further this off season perhaps at the expense of a little of their depth. They will need to improve and push for top four this year as you imagine their window is open right now to be a challenger. Could the AFL nightmare of a GC/Freo grand final be pushing even closer.

The backline really sorted itself last year. The additions of Noble and Rioli off half back gave them both run and quality disposal. They have Collins who is a star and then Ballard and Andrew. You would think Andrew needs to actual realise his potential more consistently for them to really make a difference.

The midfield is a brute and you then add Petracca doing cameos through there and it is going to be very tough. Rowell and Anderson were dominant last season and give them real hardness. Weller is still playing football and then you add in Miller and Humphrey rolling through and they look very good through there. They did lose some depth last year but the top end talent is hard to deny.

The forward line is rich with talls, King, JUH and Read is a pretty good combination of marking talent. JUH seems to have his head right but who really knows. I wouldn’t imagine someone facing off field challenges actually finds it easier to focus on footy whilst living on the gold coast. Ben Long had a career best season last year and they will need something similar from him this year. Petracca is good for some goals as well.

We know Witts is a good ruck, very good even but he isn’t exactly a mobile beast and will be interesting to see the impact of the new rules on him and how Hardwick manages him. Speaking of Hardwick, he has a chance to cement his legacy much like Leigh Matthews before him by winning a premiership with a second team in a non footy state. It is clear he has the players working for him and he has a list ready to do some damage.

Gold Coast should be primed to make a run at it this year. Their best players are in the right experience and age window. They added quality talent to their list and should be a better team than last year. If they can start the season well then they should be a top four team this year. If their depth gets tested, they should be a top 8 team. I think 4-6 is about right.

[James98]

Die

[Rom]

Top 4

[Heskickingbloodygols]

It’s either this or next year that the suns cement themselves as a consistent top 4 outfit. Their list is getting too good to ignore.

[smooth]

I think they’ll win the flag this year. Aren’t too many holes in the list, they’ll be better for the experience of finals football in 2025 and they have one of the best coaches you could ask for in Hardwick.

[daf]

Easy top four.

Should aim for GF against the Lions.

[daf]

Also, there will be a huge media storm regarding the Northern academies.

[Chris_1993]

If it happens, play that Grand Final at The Gabba. Keep it the fk away from Melbourne.

I don’t want two QLD teams swanning about showing off how good at football they are now. I can deal with one at any given time. But two at the same time? No thanks.

[Bomber93]

Has Dimma left the new Mrs Hardwick for another staffer yet?

[Finding_Nino]

Fark Hardwick and fark Gold Coast there is only one team that I want to succeed and that’s Essendon stuff every one else

[Heskickingbloodygols]

Be interesting how they go as they play more footy on the G. Lions had to learn to win there. But helps that Dimma is their coach. Knows his way around that patch of grass.

[j_w]

Hope they win it all.

As I won’t have to hear about it from anybody.

[Bully]

It’s gonna be hard to beat the 2 Queensland teams in the next 5 years, both look set for a dynasty with their young talent.

[billybomber]

dimma using the detroit pistons in 1989 for inspiration. I asked AI to explain why he would use the Detroit Pistons for inspiration:

The “Bad Boy” Pistons - perfect blueprint for a team that tasted success but hasn’t proven anything yet.

What Made the 1989 Pistons Great:

1. Physical, Team-First Defense

• Known as the “Bad Boys” - most physical team in the NBA

• “Jordan Rules” defense - legendary coordinated scheme to stop Michael Jordan

• Won through toughness and collective effort, not individual stars

• Championship built on defense and grit, not offensive flair

2. Blue-Collar Identity

• Detroit was economically struggling (auto industry collapse)

• Team embodied the city’s working-class, tough mentality

• “Us against the world” mentality

• No superstars initially - just hard workers who became champions

3. Team Chemistry Over Star Power

• Isiah Thomas (leader), Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer

• Role players who bought into a system

• Ego-free basketball - everyone knew their role

• Back-to-back championships (1989, 1990)

4. Beaten the Unbeatable

• Dethroned the Lakers dynasty

• Stopped the emerging Bulls/Jordan (until 1991)

• Proved tough, coordinated team defense beats individual brilliance

5. The Critical Part: They Kept Grinding

• Lost to Celtics in '87 Eastern Finals (Game 7)

• Lost to Lakers in '88 Finals (Game 7)

• Finally broke through in '89

• Then backed it up in '90

• Didn’t rest on one breakthrough - proved it was sustainable

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Why Damien Hardwick Would Use This for Gold Coast NOW:

The Parallels Are Perfect:

1. One Finals Win Means Nothing Yet

• Gold Coast won their first final last year - huge milestone

• But Pistons lost big games for YEARS before winning it all

• One finals win ≠ contender status

• Hardwick’s message: “You’ve proven you can win ONE final. Now what?”

2. The Dangerous “We’ve Arrived” Mindset

• 15 wins in 2025 doesn’t guarantee 15+ in 2026

• Pistons could have relaxed after beating Boston or getting to '88 Finals

• They didn’t - they got hungrier

• Hardwick warning against complacency: “Nothing is automatic”

3. The Grind Doesn’t Stop

• Pistons’ journey: struggle → breakthrough → sustain

• Gold Coast: struggle (years at bottom) → breakthrough (first final) → sustain (???)

• This is where most teams fail

• Success without sustained effort = fluke

4. Back It Up or It Meant Nothing

• Pistons won back-to-back titles ('89, '90)

• Proved it wasn’t luck or a one-off

• Gold Coast needs to prove 2025 wasn’t their ceiling

• “You’ve had your breakthrough moment. Now show it’s who you are, not what you got lucky with.”

5. Team-First Culture Prevents Regression

• After success, egos emerge, effort drops

• Pistons stayed hungry, defensive, physical

• Role clarity prevented complacency

• Hardwick reinforcing: “Stay connected, stay defensive, stay hungry”

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Hardwick’s Likely Message:

"Last year was massive - first finals win in club history. 15 wins. You should be proud. But the Pistons didn’t celebrate making the Finals in '88 - they used it as fuel. They lost Game 7 to the Lakers and came back ANGRIER. They won it all the next year, then backed it up again.

You’ve had your moment. One final. Now everyone knows you can do it. But nothing’s guaranteed. 15 wins last year doesn’t mean 15 this year. The Pistons proved it over and over - relentless defense, no egos, everyone doing their job. That’s how you go from ‘nice story’ to dynasty.

We’re not celebrating last year. We’re using it as proof that when we commit to the system - physical, defensive, team-first - we win. Now we prove it wasn’t a fluke. We prove we’re not satisfied. We prove we’re building something that lasts."

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Why This Reference Hits Different Now:

Before 2025: “Look what underdogs can become” (inspirational, aspirational)

After 2025: “One breakthrough means nothing without follow-through” (accountability, hunger)

Hardwick’s basically saying:

• You’ve had your feel-good moment

• Now comes the hard part

• Sustaining success is harder than achieving it

• Don’t let one finals win make you soft

• Pistons didn’t - and that’s why they’re remembered

It’s a warning disguised as inspiration.

Brilliant coaching.