Gary Ablett Jr joins dad in Australian Football Hall of Fame

12.26am on Jun 13, 2026 ‘It was like the Roman Colosseum’: Hardwick’s take on the GMHBA Stadium crowd

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Frustrated Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says Geelong received crucial free kicks inside 50 towards the end of the second quarter that “weren’t there” due to the influence of the home crowd in their 45-point loss at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.

The triple premiership coach exploded in the coach’s box just before half-time when Cats forward Jeremy Cameron received a free kick for front-on contact minutes after the out-of-zone umpire awarded him a free kick for high contact following a spilled mark.

Former champion full-forward and Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall said on the Kayo Sports coverage the umpires had “given away some reasonably soft ones tonight” after Cameron was given the free kick for high contact. Suns captain Noah Anderson approached the umpires at half-time for clarification.

In his post-match press conference, Hardwick said the lasso rule needed to be changed so it was not paid if the ball accidentally came off a boot, and then he was asked about his outburst on half-time. He said it almost seemed as if the crowd were able to influence a decision by giving the thumbs up or thumbs down.

11.21pm on Jun 12, 2026 Scott praises his big men

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Cats coach Chris Scott loved what he saw from young bigs Sam De Koning and Mitch Edwards tonight, and he was singing their praises in the post-match.

While the Cats defended manfully, especially against Gold Coast’s star onballers, Scott said the dominance of his big men made all the difference.

The Cats sing the team song. AFL Photos “Our two young ruckmen were super tonight,” Scott said.

“When you have that performance from your big guys, it helps your guys at the bottom [to] be proactive.”

11.10pm on Jun 12, 2026 Hardwick: It’s time for Suns to execute

By Roy Ward

The Suns need to execute better in the big moments, according to their coach Damien Hardwick.

As Gold Coast’s losing run continued tonight, Hardwick admitted his side couldn’t match the strength and experience of the Cats.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick. AFL Photos He said the solution was to execute better in the pivotal moments, and take their chances at goal – two key areas they fell short in tonight.

“What you have to realise is that our template, our identity of the way we are playing, is in reasonable shape, but we have to execute moments better,” Hardwick said.

11.03pm on Jun 12, 2026 The ‘easy fix’ Hardwick wants for the lasso rule

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Suns coach Damien Hardwick has called on the AFL to make an “easy fix” to the lasso rule and not determine toe taps or incidental knocks below the knee as kicks.

Hardwick said he felt it was an easy modification to make and only punish deliberate kicks, rather than those close to the line.

“I just think it is a modification they can make where the ball trickles off a guy’s toe, it is not as if he is trying to kick it out of bounds,” Hardwick said.

“It’s not the reason we won or lost. It’s just that they change rules, so change that one.”

10.41pm on Jun 12, 2026 Suns’ finals chances look shaky

By Roy Ward

There is a lot of chatter about which clubs could finish in the ninth and 10th spots, but Gold Coast could miss the top 10 altogether if they don’t regain the form and confidence lost over the past month.

Tonight’s loss takes them to 7-6 (eighth spot), but they have a treacherous run to the finals and only four home games left, as several other commentators have pointed out this evening.

Daniel Rioli is tackled by Shaun Mannagh. AFL Photos The next month seems pretty telling when it comes to the finals as they host Hawthorn and Collingwood, along with trips to Perth (to face the Dockers) and Adelaide (to take on the Crows).

If the Suns can’t split that four-match group, the finals could be beyond them.

They also don’t get any chances to beat up on the bottom-four sides, but there are enough games left if they are good enough to get the wins.

10.32pm on Jun 12, 2026 Analysis: Suns’ big names left embarrassed

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Geelong’s unbeaten streak against Gold Coast at GHMBA Stadium has stretched to 10 as the Cats embarrassed the Suns’ big name midfielders to strengthen their hold on a top-four spot.

The game followed the same, familiar script dozens of Geelong games against non-Victorian teams have followed in the past two decades.

The plot is an arm wrestle eventually turning into a Cats festival of goals, with Geelong scoring more than 100 points – this time winning 15.15 (105) to 8.12 (60).

Damien Hardwick and the Suns have some serious work to do. AFL Photos

10.29pm on Jun 12, 2026 Full-time stats

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10.25pm on Jun 12, 2026 ‘I feel bad for Goldy’: Smith

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Bailey Smith spoke to Kayo Sports post game.

On the win: “We love playing here, and I feel bad for Goldy, having to come down here. They touched us up when we played up there in opening round.

“It was better to have a better defensive game from all us mids. We got smacked around…