Summary
Damien Hardwick emphasized the need for better protection for Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell following their loss to Brisbane, where Rowell struggled with just 16 disposals and one clearance. Despite a strong start, the Suns were outperformed in clearances, leading to a 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) defeat, marking their second consecutive loss. Hardwick remains optimistic about upcoming matches against the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn, asserting that the gap to the top teams is not as wide as the score suggests, and believes Rowell’s potential needs more officiating support.