Gold Coast Suns crush Eagles by 87 points in record win

The Gold Coast Suns have opened their 2025 AFL season in historic fashion, demolishing the West Coast Eagles by 87 points at Optus Stadium on Sunday to secure the biggest win in the club’s history.

The Suns were relentless from the opening bounce, overpowering the Eagles across the ground to claim a dominant 20.16 (136) to 7.7 (49) victory as the favourites at $1.55 with top AFL bookmakers.

The midfield battle was where the contest was won, with new captain Noah Anderson leading the charge with 36 disposals, nine clearances, and three goal assists.

Matt Rowell (30 disposals, 10 clearances, eight tackles) and Touk Miller (26 disposals, two goals) provided plenty of support, feeding off the dominance of ruckman Jarrod Witts to ensure the Suns controlled the game’s tempo.

Their superior workrate and willingness to hunt in numbers left the Eagles struggling to find answers.

Ben King was the star up forward for the Suns, booting a career-best six goals, including a spectacular third-quarter mark that is already an early contender for Mark of the Year.

Ben Long (four goals) and young guns Jake Rogers (three goals) and Ethan Read (two goals) also cashed in, while Bailey Humphrey was a key playmaker with five goal assists.

Despite a competitive first quarter, where West Coast trailed by just 16 points, the Suns took complete control in the second term, slamming home five unanswered goals to stretch their lead to 45 points at the main break.

By three-quarter time, the margin had ballooned to 60 points, with the Eagles unable to halt the onslaught.

There was a slight setback for Gold Coast, with defender Charlie Ballard subbed out in the second quarter after landing awkwardly from a marking contest.

However, the Suns showed no signs of slowing down, continuing their relentless pressure and efficient ball movement.

West Coast’s new era under coach Andrew McQualter began in disappointing fashion, with their midfield comprehensively beaten and their backline under siege.

Offseason recruits Jack Graham and Liam Baker worked hard, while Brady Hough and Reuben Ginbey showed glimpses of promise.

However, Tim Kelly (14 disposals) and young star Harley Reid (12 disposals) struggled to have an impact, and the Eagles’ woes deepened with Jake Waterman leaving the field in the third quarter due to a calf injury.

With this emphatic victory, Gold Coast have sent a strong message to the rest of the AFL, showing they are ready to make a statement in 2025.

The Eagles, meanwhile, face a daunting challenge in Round 2 as they travel east to take on reigning premiers Brisbane at long odds, paying $11 with top online bookmakers.

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