2025 AFL Team Previews

Gold Coast Suns AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 14 Feb 2025

Jeremy Darke 14 Feb 2025

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Gold Coast Suns predicted to finish 10th in the 2025 AFL season.
Additions of John Noble and Daniel Rioli to bolster the Suns chances.
Will the Suns make the AFL Finals for the first time in 15 seasons?

Gold Coast Suns predicted to finish 10th in the 2025 AFL season. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Gold Coast Suns AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Gold Coast Suns AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement
Where the Gold Coast Suns finish in 2025: 10
Projected Win total: 12
Best Contender for Brownlow Medal: Noah Andersson
What’s to like
What’s NOT to like
Gold Coast Suns Offseason Player Movement
Gold Coast Suns Predicted Round 1 Squad

Where the Gold Coast Suns finish in 2025: 10

The Suns were one of the most active teams in the offseason with Damien Hardwick bringing in some key players like Daniel Rioli and John Noble to bolster their halfback line. Besides the loss of Jack Lukosius who had a strong back-end of 2024, the Gold Coast didn’t lose much class.

The Suns have been an ‘on the cusp’ team for a while now without ever making the finals in their 14 years in the competition. This could be the year, however, it is hard to see any team that finished in the eight in 2024, finish behind them in 2025.

Projected Win total: 12

The Pythagorean expectation has the Suns finishing with just 10 wins this season, however with the improvements made at halfback and another year under Damien Hardwick an adjustment of 2 wins more was made.

It has the Gold Coast finishing on 12 wins, just one win outside of the top 8 and finals contention. The Suns were worthless away from home in 2024, but if they can improve that record they just might get a couple more victories in 2025.

Best Contender for Brownlow Medal: Noah Andersson

2024 was the strongest season yet for Noah Anderson, who made his mark as one of the premium midfielders in the AFL. Career-highs in disposals (29/G), Inside 50s (6.0/G) and uncontested possessions (18.1/G) saw Andersson control the midfield movement for the Suns in their fast paced attack where ball protection was the priority.

The 23-year-old will develop once again with another preseason under Damien Hardwick and will be an important piece of the success of the Suns in 2025.

What’s to like

The Damien Hardwick effect was predominant when the Suns played on the Gold Coast and it has to be expected that it will also be there this season on the road, which it wasn’t in 2024.

The Gold Coast purchased the links they needed between their defence and their midfield with Rioli and Noble coming into the squad. With possession and short-ball handling the Suns best weaponed, they have brought in two capable warriors that will slip right into the style they were successful with last season.

What’s NOT to like

Ben King was looking like taking the Coleman Medal for a long stretch last season and that is a positive on an individual basis, but it was an issue for the Suns because there were not enough other targets in the forward line that were consistent.

The Gold Coast haven’t addressed that issue in the offseason and will need to see an improvement on their 21.8% Goal Efficiency that was good for 14th-best in the AFL in 2025.

Gold Coast Suns Offseason Player Movement

Cooper Bell (No.49 draft pick), Asher Eastham (Rookie Draft), Zak Evans (Category B rookie), Lachlan Gulbin (Category B rookie), Elliott Himmelberg (free agent, Adelaide), Ben Jepson (SSP), Max Knobel (Rookie Draft), Leo Lombard (No.9 draft pick, Academy), John Noble (trade, Collingwood), Daniel Rioli (trade, Richmond)

OUT

Rory Atkins (trade, Port Adelaide), Sandy Brock (delisted), Levi Casboult (retired), Sam Day (delisted), Brandon Ellis (retired), Oskar Faulkhead (delisted), Jack Lukosius (trade, Port Adelaide), Darcy Macpherson (delisted), Jack Mahony (delisted), Hewago Oea (delisted), Will Rowlands (delisted), James Tsitas (delisted)