AFL: Gold Coast Suns intent on keeping Sam Flanders
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Suns coach Damien Hardwick has suggested rival clubs shouldn't waste their time trying to lure midfielder Sam Flanders away from the Gold Coast.
Flanders, 23, is contracted to the Suns until the end of the 2027 AFL season; however, reports have emerged that St Kilda and some other Victorian clubs are keen to bring Flanders back to his home state sooner.
However, Hardwick has no intention of letting go of the Gippsland product.
'We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere,' the Suns coach said on Friday.
'I've got a real soft spot for Sam. He's one of my favourites. He's been really challenged this year with injury but … we're really positive about his back end of the year.
'He's the solution for us. He's an outstanding player. When he plays at his very best with Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and Touk Miller … we're a different side.'
Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders is among of Suns coach Damien Hardwick's 'favourites'. Picture: Gold Coast Suns
Flanders isn't the only Suns star being reportedly chased by Victorian clubs, with off-contract on-baller Rowell and forward Ben King also linked with moves south.
However, Hardwick said the Suns – who have won eight from 12 this season ahead of their clash on Sunday against the GWS Giants at Engie Stadium – were set to become a club that top players from other teams would want to join in a similar way to fellow Queenslanders and reigning premiers Brisbane.
'We've got to make sure this is the very best environment for players,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said,
'We've got opposition clubs speaking to our players and we're speaking to opposition players.
'We want to keep our very good players, (and) we're also happy to take a few as well.'
Hardwick's Suns are hoping to avoid a third successive defeat on Sunday after suffering back-to-back loss before their bye last weekend.
'We're really bullish about how far we can go,' he said ahead of the 'next shift' in the Suns' battle to play finals football for the first time.
'We've put to bed the first part of the year. This part of the year is really important. The contenders stand up and the pretenders fall away. That's the challenge from here on in.
'We're really excited about the next block of four games (against the Giants, Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood) that's going to present an opportunity for us.
'We're firmly zone in on what that looks like. We've got some areas of our game that we really like, but we've certainly got a lot of improvement left in us as well.'
Originally published as Gold Coast Suns star Sam Flanders isn't 'going anywhere' despite interest from Victorian clubs
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
36 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Kidding ourselves': Debate erupts over AFL's plan to revive State of Origin
The AFL is in talks to revive State of Origin, but there are fears the proposed showdown would only be an 'exhibition game'. As the NRL's State of Origin heads to a decider following Queensland's Game 2 win in Perth, it appears increasingly likely the AFL will bring back a State of Origin game as soon as next year. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said earlier this year: 'I can't rule it in and I can't rule it out, but it will certainly be a conversation I'd like to have with the players and the clubs, 'There seems to be a bit of a groundswell for it.' It has now emerged that the WA government is in talks with the AFL to hold a State of Origin game in Perth during pre-season in the first week of February in 2026. WA deputy premier and sports minister Rita Saffioti said talks were in the early stages but the AFL is 'very keen' on the idea. 'It's not a done deal,' Saffioti said on Friday. 'But I know the AFL was very keen, and we're very keen. 'Everyone is very excited about having a WA State of Origin game in the AFL, there's some good discussions happening at the moment.' The game between the Fremantle Dockers and the Indigenous All Stars in February this year was considered a major success, and the AFL is considering holding a State of Origin match in a similar as soon as next season. But not everyone is a fan of the idea. Brian Taylor pointed out the hot conditions in Perth in February and noted team selection would be based on reputation instead of form if the match is held in pre-season. Taylor, who played for Victoria in a 1986 State of Origin game, said on Triple M: 'What are we trying to do here with State of Origin football, playing it in February? Do you know how hot it is in Perth in Feb? 'How many players are in form on the 6th of February? How are you picking the team? On the year before? 'It's about current form, it's about players playing well, like the All Australian — to achieve the status of getting selected in the side. 'I think this game is not going to work if it's in Feb. 'We currently have three byes currently in our season. Let's put one of those byes aside for a State of Origin weekend when the players have reached top form, halfway though or two thirds of the way through (a season).' NRL players earn $30,000 for each State of Origin earn match, and Taylor said a financial incentive may be required to get AFL players invested in the concept as a genuine competitive game. 'Let's give the players all of the gate, so a player could get $10,000 to $20,000 each per game,' Taylor said. 'Then they'll absolutely want to play.' He added: 'It has to be played mid-season, it has to be picked on form. Players are barely started their pre-season in the first week of Feb. 'Are we kidding ourselves? Are we trying to make this work?' Leigh Montagna said the likelihood is any State of Origin clash would be an 'exhibition game' in the mould of the Victoria vs All Stars game in 2020, held to raise funds for bushfire relief. 'It's different, it's an exhibition game,' Montagna said on Triple M. 'You're probably still thinking of State of Origin in the 80s and 90s when it was South Australia vs Victoria and they were playing for keeps. Now it's more of an exhibition game. 'I'd love to see (Christian) Petracca in the same forward line as Toby Greene and Paddy Dangerfield and the Victorians play together. And I'm sure the other states would like to see their players play in their state jersey. 'It's just no longer going to be what it was like in the old days. It's an exhibition. You pick them (the teams) on reputation.' Taylor replied: 'Why do we need an exhibition game of our own game in our own country? People see 20 games a year. 'It can't be (held) before they've even completed their pre-season. What a load of nonsense.' The last State of Origin match was between Victoria and South Australia in 1999, and it remains to be seen what state or amalgamation of states would take on Victoria if the concept is revived. 'We think this would be an incredible drawcard for the state,' WA deputy premier Rita Saffioti added. 'I know many of the players are actually excited, particularly those based over east, are very keen to play for their state, so I think there's a huge push from the players. 'Pre-season is a good time to do it, as opposed to in-season ... the clubs are already playing pre-season games,' Saffioti said. 'And we saw the Indigenous All Stars, we had some incredible players out there ... it makes a bit of sense to do it during February.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Spencer Leniu and Ezra Mam embrace says it all after State of Origin Game 2
The long-running feud between Ezra Mam and Spencer Leniu dating back to a Vegas racism row is all but over after the pair were seen clearing the air before sharing a warm embrace after State of Origin Game 2 on Wednesday night. Vision, which you can watch above, showed Leniu approach Queensland's 18th man after full-time, with the pair engaging in a brief conversation that ended in an embrace. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The touching moment showed they have seemingly finally buried the hatched some 16 months after the Blues enforcer labelled Mam a 'monkey' in the Las Vegas season opener between the Roosters and Broncos in 2024. Leniu copped an eight-match ban for the slur which he insisted was unintentional and was nothing more than 'one brown man saying something to another brown man'. The fallout continued even after he served his suspension with Leniu aggrieved at some of the commentary around the situation from people in the media, namely from Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston, who said the punishment should have been far harsher. Leniu clearly held a grudge against the Maroons great for his remarks and accused Thurston of being 'two-faced' and 'fake' following a sideline spat back in April. Thurston claimed the following day he was 'shocked' by Leniu's hostility, 'which was not of a racial nature, but overly aggressive in tone and unwarranted'. Leniu then posted on his Instagram: 'I never wanted to talk to JT. He kept trying to come to speak to me. 'I said, 'Lad idc (I don't care) if that you hate me for what I did. But don't come up to me asking me questions like we're Algood (sic). 'Don't be two face. Hate me lad I'm eetswa (sweet) with that. But don't be fake. I hate fake people.' Since then Leniu has been on a self-imposed media ban and stayed out of the limelight. In a great show of character, after full-time, he sought out Mam to bury the hatchet and clear the air with the Broncos star. And speaking after the exchange, Mam said it had all been settled. 'It's great that me and Spencer got the chance to see each other face-to-face last night,' Mam told The Sydney Morning Herald.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Darwin Triple Crown Supercars: Opening race brought to halt after 15 seconds by monster crash
A monster crash brought the opening race of the Darwin Triple Crown to a halt less than 15 seconds into a chaotic beginning of racing action. The usual tussle for spots out of Turn 1 led to tyre contact that sent Brad Jones Racing's Jaxon Evans flying into the barriers. A safety car was called as the number 12 Camaro, carrying a lot of speed, crashed into the barriers and was forced out of action with massive damage to the front. ABSOLUTE CHAOS ON THE SAFETY CAR RESTART! We're under control of the bp Ultimate Safety Car once more! #RepcoSC #Supercars — Supercars (@supercars) June 21, 2025 Then further up the track, Maculey Jones in his Pizza Hut entry was rear ended, spinning him a full 180 off the track into the grass. The race restart was equally as chaotic with Erebus' Jack Le Brocq losing a wheel following contact with Rylan Wood. A confrontation took place between the pair as they hopped out of their vehicles with Le Broq giving Wood, who had showed so much promise in practice, an ear full Richie Stanaway was also in the pits after a huge log jam forced another safety car out of the restart. Wood has made his feelings known on the official's decision to restart where they had causing mass chaos and ending his chances in the first race of the Darwin Triple Crown early. The safety car was in place after Jaxon Evans crashed into a guard rail out of Turn 1, but the ensuing restart caused a multi car crash down the straight. Wood's engine failed and his car slowed causing a mass log jam in the back end of the field with Jack Le Brocq's tyre bounding away from his vehicle. He said it 'was just one of those things' but made a dig at the decision to restart where they had rather than the final turn. 'We changed our safety car restart to go out on the last corner, but we still didn't go out on the last corner,' he said. 'So, if we keep doing the same sh-t on restarts the same stuff is going to happen.' Meanwhile, Evans said he was alright following the opening lap crash, which he felt he had been escorted into. 'Yeah I'm all good, bit of a sore foot but otherwise I'm all good,' he said. 'Didn't quite execute in qualifying and paid the price racing down the back. 'Felt like I got escorted there at the exit of Turn 1, interlocked wheels and sent me to the fence. 'The car is pretty heavily damaged and unfortunately won't be racing this afternoon.' FEENEY'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIDDEN VALLEY ROLLS ON Broc Feeney held off a determined chasing Cam Waters to take out his third top place finish from the past four races at Hidden Valley. A chaotic race start and a persistent clutch issue didn't put any brakes on the Feeney train as he held onto the top spot. Feeney said his clutch was going all the way to the floor and though he managed to wrangle it the issue did a number on his rear tyres. 'Super hard there, shame at the start (after the crashes),' Feeney said. FEENEY HOLDS ON ðŸ'Š #RepcoSC #Supercars — Supercars (@supercars) June 21, 2025 'Doing the speeds we were doing, the safety car couldn't pull away so I couldn't go to the straight and unfortunately crashes happen. 'I had a clutch issue for most of that race, it was super stressful didn't know how I was going to go.' ' I was hanging on for dear life, doing qualifying laps, looking forward to the ice bath post race.' Territorian Bryce Fullwood impressed in his home town return driving himself into fourth, his best result at Hidden Valley and a show of improving pace at BJR. Matt Payne secured himself another podium finish, and Chaz Mostert made up ground after poor qualifying, but Waters was the threat for Feeney from behind. Waters overtook Fullwood to deny him his shot at a first home podium and caught Payne as he put the pressure on to regain second.
