Gold Coast has improved to 4-0 for the first time in club history after a second-half dominance of North Melbourne to win by 52 points the first ever AFL game at Barossa Park.
Ben King bagged five goals and star midfielders Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell lifted the side in the second half en route to the 21.15 (141) to 13.11 (89) victory.
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In a topsy-turvy contest, the Suns looked like they were going to kill off the game early when they jumped out to a 25-point lead in the second term.
But the Kangaroos responded with seven of the next eight majors to lead by eight points halfway through the third quarter and it looked as though a boilover was on the cards.
Gold Coast, though, inspired by the brilliant Rowell, wrenched back the ascendancy with 11 of the last 13 goals to ruthlessly kill off the contest as they finished with a club record 14 individual goalkickers.
The result propelled the Suns to an unprecedented 4-0 start to a campaign, and it appears as though under triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick, they have finally arrived as a force to be reckoned with after 14 years of mediocrity.
Meanwhile, the same cannot be said for the Kangaroos who have crashed back to earth with a thud following their 10-goal smashing of Melbourne three weeks ago.
All the excitement and enthusiasm from that win over the Demons has evaporated thanks to three consecutive losses, including their last two which have been by a combined 117 points.
The Kangaroos have now won just 16 of their last 112 games in a horror six-year span, and worryingly, there’s still very little light at the end of the tunnel this far deep into their historically bad era.
After giving up 12 of the first 14 clearances, the Suns, led by Rowell (11), ended up winning that stat 45-42 and thumped the Kangaroos in contested possessions 141-125 and inside 50s (65-47).
Rowell was absolutely superb and kickstarted his team’s powerful finish to the game to also end up with 26 touches (15 contested), eight forward entries and a goal.
John Noble had a day out, too, with 28 disposals and a goal, while Touk Miller helped himself to 27 possessions (11), five clearances and a major, and Noah Anderson had another strong outing with 27 disposals and six clearances.
The 3-2-1 (what we learned)…
3. STAR MIDFIELD LIFTS SUNS TO FIRST EVER 4-0 START
Gold Coast’s star midfield – led by Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson – lifted it to a 4-0 start for the first time in club history. You sense there might be a few ‘firsts’ for the improved Suns in 2025.
It was an arm wrestle for most of the day at Barrosa, before Gold Coast’s gun on-ballers went to another level in the third quarter to turn the tide and ultimately drag it over the line.
Footy fans were treated to a great battle between two of the most loaded midfield groups in the competition, with the likes of Rowell, Anderson and Touk Miller going head-to-head with Luke Davies Uniacke, Jy Simpkin and Harry Sheezel.
Rowell (10 disposals, five clearances, four tackles) and Anderson (13 touches) got particularly busy in the third quarter including Rowell kicking a classy goal right on the siren to close the period to deal a big blow to the Roos.
It was key in the Suns kicking 4.3 (27) from stoppage to North’s 2.0 (12) to separate the game, while Gold Coast dominated the second half 12 goals to six.
“It’s been really fascinating. North started the game on top but that third quarter it was the likes of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson getting right on top and it resulted in a lot of scores from stoppage.
“They had a huge third term and it was all into the breeze … it is still pretty strong right of screen. They had to really stand up,” Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich said on Fox Footy.
“You can see how close they are in terms of what it means to them to get this one over the line.”
2. KING STAYS HOT… AND ‘NOT AT PEAK YET’
Ben King is on fire to start 2025.
King booted a game-high five goals – from just six disposals — in a dominant display up forward from the star forward.
It puts King into the outright Coleman Medal lead with 17 majors for the season. And King, who’s coming off a career-best 55 goal season in 2024, could be eyeing Tom Lynch’s club record of 66 majors in 2016.
“(King) has had some start to the season – that’s 17 on the year – and they continue to pile on a big score,” Saints legend Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy at King’s fifth goal.
Hawks legend Dermott Brereton meanwhile thinks the 24-year old could yet go to another level.
“The thing about Ben King is, at his age, I still feel he has upside. He’s not at the peak yet. I still feel he’s totally learning the game, there’s little tricks you learn along the way,” Brereton said.
“He’s still got upside for game knowledge in certain moments and situations.”
1. BARGAIN RECRUIT GOING UNDER THE RADAR
There’s been plenty of love for the likes of Tom Barrass, Josh Battle, Jack Macrae, Dan Houston and Adelaide trio of additions as the best recruits of 2025.
But John Noble is mounting his own serious case.
The former Magpie continued his strong first season for the Suns with a team-high 28 disposals and game-high 712 metres gained plus a goal.
While fellow Suns recruit Daniel Rioli drew ample hype, Noble has arguably been better – and cost the club much less in a trade sense as one of the bargain recruits in a great start to life up north.
The 28-year old has averaged a career-high 24 disposals and has proven a real difference maker for Damien Hardwick’s side with his run and carry and general experience across half back.
Part of the three-team trade that sent Dan Houston from Port Adelaide to Collingwood, the Suns would be very pleased with how they’ve come away from that deal.
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