Best 23 in 2025

[Young_Guns]

Uwland Collins Andrew
Powell Ballard Rioli
Weller Miller Clohesy
Ainsworth Walter Flanders
Rosas King Long
Witts Rowell Anderson
Noble Graham Humphrey Davies
Swallow

Rogers, Lombard, etc. on the cusp.

Some serious speed and running power in the squad now!

The 3 biggest questions I see are:
1. Andrew forward or back? Our backline looks very good with him there, but his potential up forward is scary. I would like to see more 2 KPF line ups with Long/Humphrey as capable complimentary options to see if we can generate more scores, but that would require less bombing the ball in.
2. Can Rosas Jnr pull his finger out and be the damaging crumber we need. Single handedly changes the lineup if he can and we desperately need it to happen.
3. Who gets midfield time. I’m on record as not liking the Anderson/Rowell/Miller trio the way they all played this year, but they are our best 3. Graham and Davies both provide a defensive wall for the others to focus on ball winning which makes us look better. I’m backing Bear szn 2025. Does Flanders play purely as a floating half forward going where he pleases? Do we see a surprise Powell/Weller addition to add some x-factor and speed? Davies lack of versatility probably hurts him out of all of them, especially with Rowell a similar 90% centre square player already.

 

[Jirik13]

Uwland Collins Andrew
Powell Ballard Rioli
Weller Miller Clohesy
Ainsworth Walter Flanders
Rosas King Long
Witts Rowell Anderson
Noble Graham Humphrey Davies
Swallow

Rogers, Lombard, etc. on the cusp.

Some serious speed and running power in the squad now!

The 3 biggest questions I see are:
1. Andrew forward or back? Our backline looks very good with him there, but his potential up forward is scary. I would like to see more 2 KPF line ups with Long/Humphrey as capable complimentary options to see if we can generate more scores, but that would require less bombing the ball in.
2. Can Rosas Jnr pull his finger out and be the damaging crumber we need. Single handedly changes the lineup if he can and we desperately need it to happen.
3. Who gets midfield time. I’m on record as not liking the Anderson/Rowell/Miller trio the way they all played this year, but they are our best 3. Graham and Davies both provide a defensive wall for the others to focus on ball winning which makes us look better. I’m backing Bear szn 2025. Does Flanders play purely as a floating half forward going where he pleases? Do we see a surprise Powell/Weller addition to add some x-factor and speed? Davies lack of versatility probably hurts him out of all of them, especially with Rowell a similar 90% centre square player already.

Agree with everything. Just think that Davies actually can play forward too and can mark. It's more Rowell who needs to expand his skillset. I think he can. When he has time, he has actually a good kick.

Dimma, just rotate more guys through middle. And kick Grigg's ass as a midfielder coach or mix up the coaches.

 

[Iva Bigun]

Wishlist for 2025:
1. Finals
2. Clean run for Powell, Weller and Miller. Feel like the last 2 years pre-seasons and seasons have halted these three and seeing them firing again would be all time.
3. Humpa to take the next step.
4. Mac to keep on rising.
5. At least 1 game where it all comes together for Jed.
6. Chucky to regain some 2023 form.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

Nice list, I have kept it simple

Win the flag

 

[Mikevk123]

B- J.Noble S.Collins J.Jeffery
HB- D.Rioli C.Ballard W.Powell
C- S.Closehy M.Rowell L.Weller
HF- B.Humphrey M.Andrew S.Flanders
F- J.Jeffery B.King B.Ainsworth
FOLL- J.Witts N.Anderson T.Miller
I/C- A.Davies, J.Walter, B.Long, C.Budarick, W.Graham

 

[DCSuns]

B- J.Noble S.Collins J.Jeffery
HB- D.Rioli C.Ballard W.Powell
C- S.Closehy M.Rowell L.Weller
HF- B.Humphrey M.Andrew S.Flanders
F- J.Jeffery B.King B.Ainsworth
FOLL- J.Witts N.Anderson T.Miller
I/C- A.Davies, J.Walter, B.Long, C.Budarick, W.Graham

Don’t mind it, you do have Jeffrey in the fwd and back pockets though.

 

[cootagc]

B- J.Noble S.Collins J.Jeffery
HB- D.Rioli C.Ballard W.Powell
C- S.Closehy M.Rowell L.Weller
HF- B.Humphrey M.Andrew S.Flanders
F- J.Jeffery B.King B.Ainsworth
FOLL- J.Witts N.Anderson T.Miller
I/C- A.Davies, J.Walter, B.Long, C.Budarick, W.Graham

I think the runner up in the B&F will get a start.

 

[Choppers]

Don’t mind it, you do have Jeffrey in the fwd and back pockets though.

Probably means Uwland in back pocket....

I like the team posted and if we're going with the 4 man bench again, then I'd probably go Swallow as sub, instead of Walter

 

[Iva Bigun]

Lots of different options given in this tread so that means the side is strong, exciting. Here is my 2cents .

I have
Graham starting in the midfield and Touk out
Budarick in the Back pocket and Bodhi in the other
Was tempted to put Moyle in as I think he will take over from Witts by the end of the year.
Andrew has stated he wants to play back but I’m not sure who goes out to fit him, Chucky is too important as a intercept marker

Stole the format from Mikevk123

B- C.Budarick S.Collins B.Uwland
HB- D.Rioli C.Ballard J Noble
C- S.Closehy M.Rowell W.Powell
HF- B.Humphrey M.Andrew S.Flanders
F- J.Jeffery B.King B.Ainsworth
FOLL- J.Witts N.Anderson, W.Graham
I/C- A.Davies, J.Walter, B.Long, L.Weller, T.Miller

 

[Yellow Feathers]

Let’s see if he can hold our players to higher standards this year. A lot of “hey, at least they tried” going on season 2024.
A reminder that we have one of the most talented lists and have never played a single finals game in our entire history.
No excuses.

 

[RowellAnderson12]

Let’s see if he can hold our players to higher standards this year. A lot of “hey, at least they tried” going on season 2024.
A reminder that we have one of the most talented lists and have never played a single finals game in our entire history.
No excuses.

McKenna Era = Talent
Dew Era = Hard Workers
Hardwick Era = Talent & Hard Workers

No excuses now

 

[KaySwizzle]

McKenna Era = Talent
Dew Era = Hard Workers
Hardwick Era = Talent & Hard Workers

No excuses now

What about the Rocket era?

 

[RowellAnderson12]

What about the Rocket era?

Good for a laugh

 

[Mini GF]

What about the Rocket era?

Rocket Era=Superannuation Top Up

 

[sunsofanarchy]

 

[KaySwizzle]

View attachment 2175376

Read over Walter? I’m not sure yet. Guess we’ll wait out the pre-season.

For me, Long has to start after his second half of the season. I’d want Weller in as well, at least initially. Jury is out on whether he can get back to his best, but I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. And I’d trial him wing. Though could see Powell or even Ainsworth there too, like you have.

I was thinking something like:

FB: Ballard / Collins / Uwland
HB: Noble / Andrew / Rioli
C: Weller / Anderson / Clohesy
Fol: Witts / Rowell / Miller
HF: Flanders / King / Ainsworth
FF: Rosas / Walter / Long
Int: Humphrey / Rogers / Powell / Graham

Emergencies: Davies, Lombard, Swallow, Read, Holman

Gives us a decent mix of spend and ball-use to attack consistently. Rosas, Flanders, Long and even Ainsworth are good for a goal or two a game each, and are all different types of players. King and Walter as the two big boys, with Walter to chop-out ruck in the forward line.

Honestly, forwardline looks ok. Just need to improve our delivery. Hopefully Rioli and Noble, then Powell and Weller more up the ground, plus improvement from players like Rogers, help with that.

 

[Jirik13]

Interesting line-up from Whiting

B: Charlie Ballard, Sam Collins, Bodhi Uwland
HB: Daniel Rioli, Mac Andrew, John Noble
C: Ben Ainsworth, Noah Anderson, Sam Clohesy
HF: Touk Miller, Jed Walter, Jake Rogers
F: Leo Lombard, Ben King, Ethan Read
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Matt Rowell, Sam Flanders
I/C: Wil Powell, Lachie Weller, Will Graham, Bailey Humphrey

Emerg: Joel Jeffrey, David Swallow, Ben Long, Ned Moyle

Your club's best 22 in 2025: Who's in, who's out, who's new

With the trade period and draft done, our reporters have their say on your team's best line-up for next year

www.afl.com.au

 

[Supersuns]

No Ben Long lol, Fish lost the plot

 

[sunsofanarchy]

Swallow in the vfl seems to be early consensus amongst teams listed

 

[Jen2310]

Not sure rogers plays over long

 

[Southern Sun]

Swallow in the vfl seems to be early consensus amongst teams listed

I think this is a sign we are becoming a serious finals contender. When the likes of swallow, Sexton, holman, berry can't get a gig it can only be a good thing.

 

[Supersuns]

Swallow, Secco and Holman shouldn't be anywhere near our best 22 going forward. If they are, something has gone seriously wrong.

 

[Southern Sun]

Could a Rowell, Lombard, w Graham be the toughest starting midfield of all time? For so long we have carried too many soft players, we are getting tougher each year now, love it.

 

[Jirik13]

Gold Coast season 2025 preview: Callum Dick breaks down where the Suns sit
Is 2025 finally the year? In Damien Hardwick’s second season on the Gold Coast, finals will once again be the expectation for the Suns. CALLUM DICK previews their season.

Callum Dick

SUNS' 2025 BEST 23​

FB: Mac Andrew, Sam Collins, Bodhi Uwland
HB: Dan Rioli, Charlie Ballard, John Noble
C: Sam Clohesy, Noah Anderson, Wil Powell
HF: Sam Flanders, Jed Walter, Ben Ainsworth
FF: Ben Long, Ben King, Bailey Humphrey
FOLL: Jarrod Witts, Matt Rowell, Touk Miller
INT: Will Graham, Jake Rogers, Nick Holman, Lachie Weller, Leo Lombard

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT ​

Alex Sexton, Asher Eastham, Brayden Fiorini, Connor Budarick, David Swallow, Jy Farrar, Malcolm Rosas, Matt Rowell, Max Knobel, Nick Holman, Sam Collins, Sean Lemmens, Tom Berry

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/gold-coast/gold-coast-season-2025-preview-callum-dick-breaks-down-where-the-suns-sit/news-story/dae55d65d59c36dc3d8b73d544adbc2c