news-engine

Suns celebrate ‘heart and soul’ star as Saints season ends in disappointing low The Gold Coast Suns have finished a tough 2026 with a 23-point win over St Kilda in club stalwart Nick Holman’s final AFL game. Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. While the 14.19 (103) to 12.8 (80) victory is just the ninth for the Suns in 2026, it gives Damien Hardwick’s men something to take into the off-season. Matt Rowell, who had 28 disposals - 20 contested and 11 clearances, gave the Saints a “lesson in toughness” at Marvel Stadium as teammates John Noble (42 touches) and Touk Miller (40 disposals and a goal) were everywhere in their final match of the year. “The Suns have finished what has been a pretty dismal season on a high,” Jack Riewoldt said. And while it was jubilation for the Suns, the night was a tough ending to the Saints who could finish the season in the unenviable 11th position - just outside a wildcard final. To add to the pain, both Saints star recruits Jack Silvagni and Tom de Koning finished the match with shoulder injuries that are expected to delay their start to pre-season. The match began as a first quarter shoot out as 12 goals were kicked in the opening stanza. The match levelled out in the second term as the clamp was applied to the red-hot Rowell. Despite their contested dominance, the Suns managed to lead by just 15 points at the main break before they threatened to blow the match wide open. Wayward accuracy in front of goal was the only reason the match wasn’t over by the final change - with Ethan Read at the cnetre of those misses. The Saints tried to claw the match back with some first Mitch Owens and then Liam Ryan bringing St Kilda within striking distance. But when Brad Hill failed to chase down Ben King - who admittedly had a large head start, the result was sealed and the Suns finished 2026 on a high. THE 3-2-1... 3. EFFICIENT SUNS DELIVER MARVEL MAGIC It was a 2026 to forget for the Suns after they failed to make finals for a consecutive season. But on Thursday night, they brought the run and flair that’s been missing. In the opening quarter alone, Gold Coast went 10 scores from 10 inside 50s in a remarkable show of efficiency. “They’ve smacked the Saints at ground level in their forward 50 in his first quarter,” triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt praised. “The ball is pinging from end to end on the back of turnover,” dual premiership Roo David King said. “Away the Suns go at speed. In a small margin industry, this is what happens. “They are on the fly – out everywhere.”,” Riewoldt added. “When they are slick with their hands the Suns, they look really, really good. “If they can get it to the outside against the Saints… they can really expose them.” The Suns narrowly missed out on a 100% scores from inside 50 rate for just the second time in club history at quarter time. But the warning signs were there for Ross Lyon and the Saints. “They are actually giving them a contested possession lesson in the middle,” King said. “I think Ross would be really disappointed – he’d be filthy at the moment the way the Saints are defending in their own 50,” Riewoldt added. “There’s very little fight behind the ball here. “Getting led to the footy and then getting out the back – that’s the damaging part.” While the clamp was applied to Matt Rowell in the second term, he had done plenty of damage with “a lesson in toughness”. The second half then belonged to Touk Miller in the middle as he “absolutely dominated”. “He’s set the tone tonight,” Eddie Betts said. Riewoldt said he could see the Suns responding in 2027. “I think the Suns will bounce next year,” he tipped. “When you’ve got a softer draw next year… they don’t have that first round pick though -that hurts them. “But I suggest it would be a summer of figuring out where all the puzzles fit in the Damien Hardwick system.” It was a sentiment King agreed with. “They should not be in that area of the AFL table right now – 13th is not where this talent sits,” he said. “They’ve got a long off season ahead of them. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. There’s nothing hidden – everything’s been exposed and I think this is a huge opportunity for this group to grow up and become the team that we all thought they’d be in ‘26.” 2. YOU LOVE TO SEE IT! We’ve seen just how emotional final AFL matches can get – and on Thursday night it was no different for retiree Nick Holman. After touching pre-game scenes as Holman ran through the banner with his young daughter, the Sun then deliver a memorable moment on the stroke of quarter time. Kicking from just inside the arc, Holman was quickly ambushed by his teammates as the Sherrin sailed through the middle. “Holman signs off – they come from everywhere,” Mark Howard said on Fox Footy. “Delight on his face and his teammates’ face. “He’s been heart and soul of this football club – you can see how much of a lift he’s given this team.” Holman added a second goal midway through the third term – despite managing just one goal all year heading into the final match. While the night belonged to Holman and the Suns, there was a touching tribute for 300-gamer Brad Hill both pre and post game as the two teams formed a guard of honour after full time. He was followed down the tunnel by retiree Dougal Howard in his final match before Holman and the Suns exited. 1. HURT SAINT’S BRAVE BATTLE There was nothing but pride to play for on Thursday night for both St Kilda and Gold Coast, yet players threw themselves into the contest. Matt Rowell was involved in plenty of push and shoves and Ben Long stamped his authority while Jed Walter went toe-to-toe with retiree Dugal Howard late. But it was the efforts of Jack Silvagni that drew the most praise for his bravery at Marvel Stadium. Silvagni dislocated his shoulder earlier this month in St Kilda’s loss to Sydney. But he was adamant he wanted to play against his former side Carlton, and was described by teammates as “an absolute warrior” for getting up for that game. With the club continuing to monitor the “level of function within his shoulder and ultimately, how he’s feeling”, the big name recruit was cleared to take on the Suns. But it was clear he was struggling – and when he stayed down after a big marking contest in the third, Silvagni’s night was over. “He’s had that shoulder issue the last few weeks - he’s very sore,” Mark Howard said. “Surprising when he got up against Carlton.” “He’s tough – what a competitor, to even put your hand up to play in a game like this when your arm is just barely hanging in its socket,” David King added. “You can just see that just takes a heavy load through that right shoulder again.” Silvagni was ruled out of the game at three-quarter time. And he wasn’t the only big name recruit to finish the match with a shoulder concern. Tom de Koning went down with less than a minute to play, clearly in pain. “That’s not a good sight,” Howard said. But Fox Footy’s experts were united in demanding more from de Koning next season. “You weigh it against the price tag – you’d say he certainly hasn’t lived up to that,” Jack Riewoldt said. “No, he’s been disappointing – there’s no shying away from that,” David King added. “He’s got a big offseason ahead of him. Get himself rock-hard fit and be a better commodity than what he’s been this year.” “You compare it to Silvagni and Liam Ryan – they’ve been great buys,” Riewoldt praised. “Silvagni has been fantastic.” Re-live our coverage of St Kilda vs Gold Coast in our blog below! Can’t see the blog?Click here