Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Netball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Important SN update for SouthlandIn the gun: Cornes calls for accountability from the Suns midfield
Jaiden Sciberras • July 4th, 2025 7:45 pm
With nine games remaining, the Gold Coast Suns could be on the verge of their first ever finals football appearance.
Having won nine of their first 14 games, the Suns find themselves in eighth place, just one game behind the top four with strong percentage and a game in hand.
With expectations rising under three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick, the Suns look to have developed into the team expected of the list at Dimma’s disposal, applying strength in the contest as an elite clearance team with one of the best scoring records in the AFL.
That being said, the Suns have frequently allowed opposition midfielders too much freedom, often permitting huge performances from star opposition with little resistance throughout the game.
In Round 16, Kysaiah Pickett and Christian Petracca were allowed far too much freedom, while Tom Green amassed a whopping 16 clearances in Round 15 and Max Holmes a ridiculous 40 disposals the week prior, two of which resulted in losses.
Approaching a crucial run home in the context of the club’s history, SEN’s Kane Cornes has put Hardwick in the gun, expecting a response to the freedom afforded to opposition stars.
“Damien Hardwick is in the gun for me,” Cornes told SEN Fireball.
“There is no issue of Gold Coast not winning this game of football (against Essendon in Round 17).
“But what I have noticed with Dimma is that opposition midfielders absolutely run riot against Gold Coast.
“The lack of accountability, when you look at Max Holmes getting his 40, or Tom Green getting his 16 clearances, or Kozzie Pickett threatening to almost win them the game in the last quarter.
“They need a bit of defensive accountability through the midfield. Their midfield is strong, they’ve got one of the best defensive midfielders in their lineup, that is Touk Miller.
“Use him Dimma! Use him!
“So, if Zach Merrett gets off the chain, or if (Nic) Martin gets off the chain, I want just someone to go and put an arm across this week, because whilst the result isn’t a concern this week, it may be when you come up against the best midfielders in finals.”
The Suns take on the Bombers at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, with a win ensuring a spot within the top eight at the conclusion of the round.
