‘Scary’ rise AFL can no longer ignore as ‘best ever’ call finally ignites underdog

Appointing Damien Hardwick as senior coach is unfolding as “the best decision” the Gold Coast Suns have made in their history.

The Suns are in the midst of their best-ever start to a season, notching a character-building sixth win of the season from eight games last Saturday against the Bulldogs to continue their Darwin dominance.

From 2024 to 2025, the Suns have gone from 13th to fourth in the competition for clearances, ninth to third for scores from clearance, 10th to second for contested possessions, seventh to first for forward-half intercepts and 17th to fifth for scores per inside-50.

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“You can’t not love it; look at these numbers,” began dual premiership winner David King on Fox Footy’s First Crack.

“It’s across the board with the Suns. I don’t know how far they go (this year), I really don’t, but what you do have to recognise is this has been the best decision that the Gold Coast have ever made.

“To get Damien Hardwick to this football club (at the end of 2023) to narrow the focus, to accept roles, to sort out this mess that we’ve had on our books for years.

“Let’s just recognise what they’ve done to this point, regardless of finals and premierships and those sorts of things. Right now, they’re a scary proposition, whether in Darwin or the Gold Coast.”

Hardwick led the Suns to 11 wins and 12 losses in his debut 2024 season before the Carrara-based side lifted to an unprecedented level to start this year.

Hiring Damien Hardwick is unfolding as “the best decision” Gold Coast has ever made. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna, meanwhile, placed a spotlight on one of Gold Coast’s key off-season recruits.

“We’ve spoken about the two at half-back, the premiership pieces that Damien Hardwick went and got in Daniel Rioli and John Noble,” he told First Crack.

“There’s been a lot spoken about Rioli, but this guy (Noble) is sneaking under the radar in terms of the influence he’s having as well off half-back.

“He was the highest-rated Gold Coast player in this game, fourth-highest rated on the ground, but he’s improved so much. I’m seeing him now break tackles, he’s a decision-maker, he’s composed.

'It's a half-backs world now' | 01:26

“Because Gold Coast are a high-pressing team and they turn the ball over, they are getting really high — they’re getting involved in goalscoring opportunities, in score involvements, and I just thought it was worth a mention.”

Noble last Saturday night posted 23 disposals, eight intercepts, 570 metres gained.

Added Montagna: “This epitomises the way that the Suns are playing at the moment, and I thought Johnny Noble deserves his dues.”

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