The Gold Coast SUNS have announced the departure of six players as they reshape their list ahead of the 2025 season. Darcy Macpherson, James Tsitas, Jack Mahony, Sandy Brock, Oskar Faulkhead, and Will Rowlands have all been informed they will not be offered contracts for the upcoming season.
Macpherson, one of the most experienced of the group, was drafted by the SUNS in the 2016 Rookie Draft and has played nine seasons with the club. The 25-year-old midfielder/forward finishes his time at Gold Coast with 97 games, highlighted by a third-place finish in the 2019 Club Champion.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Darcy Macpherson of the Suns handballs in front of Rory Laird of the Crows during the round 21 AFL match between Adelaide Crows and Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval, on August 05, 2023, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Tsitas, who joined the SUNS as a pre-season supplementary selection in 2022, made five AFL appearances across three seasons. Though he struggled to break into the senior side, Tsitas captained the SUNS’ VFL team to their first-ever premiership in 2023, despite missing the grand final due to suspension.
Mahony, recruited from North Melbourne via the 2023 Rookie Draft, played 19 games in the VFL this season but failed to make an AFL appearance for the SUNS. Similarly, Brock, who was pre-listed as a rookie from Darwin in 2021, and Faulkhead, picked up in the 2022 Mid-Season Rookie Draft, both struggled to break into the senior team.
Rowlands, drafted from the Northern Territory with pick 18 in the 2023 AFL Rookie Draft, rounds out the group of delisted players, having not made his AFL debut.
GC SUNS General Manager of Player Talent and Strategy Craig Cameron expressed gratitude for the contributions of the departing players.
“Darcy, James, Jack, Sandy, Oskar, and Will have all had unique journeys to the AFL and we commend them for all the hard work and dedication they have invested in our club over the years,” Cameron said. “We sincerely thank them for their service to the SUNS and wish them all the best for the next stage of their careers.”
The six players join retiree Brandon Ellis in leaving the club, as the SUNS look to build a stronger list for the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership season.
