AFL Supercoach 2026: Gold Coast Suns 2026 Squad Analysis

After finally featuring in finals last year, the Suns now turn their attention to achieving even more success in 2026. 

Damien Hardwick’s side got the monkey off the back last season, winning a gripping elimination final against Fremantle in their maiden finals campaign. 

And the scary part is the Suns are only just getting started. 

Hardwick added former Dee Christian Petracca, as well as star Dog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan throughout the trade period, before capping off a tremendous off-season with the addition of five gun Academy prospects via the draft. 

There’s a real chance that the Suns are now the best team in it. 

Let’s take a look at the Suns’ SuperCoach prospects for the upcoming season.

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Predicted Round 1 starting team

FB: Charlie Ballard, Sam Collins, Wil Powell
HB: John Noble, Mac Andrew, Daniel Rioli

C: Zeke Uwland, Matt Rowell, Lachie Weller

HF: Christian Petracca, Ethan Read, Bailey Humphrey

FF: Ben Long, Ben King, Jed Walter

FOLL: Jarrod Witts, Noah Anderson, Touk Miller

I/C: Bodhi Uwland, Joel Jeffrey, Will Graham, Jake Rogers, Leo Lombard

Analysis: Damien Hardwick will have some serious selection headaches this year given the strength of his Suns outfit. The key forward posts will be fascinating given they have four genuine starter options there. Ugle-Hagan didn’t play any footy last year at the Bulldogs and despite impressing over pre-season, might need a bigger conditioning block before he jumps ahead of one of the other talented talls.

Midfielder Alex Davies and Academy speedster Dylan Patterson are two of the next in line you’d imagine. Ballard missed the majority of 2025 with an ACL injury and will bolster the backline too. 

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Fixture

Round 1: West Coast (H)

Round 2: Richmond (A)

Round 3: Bye

Round 4: Melbourne (A)

Round 5: Sydney (A)

Byes: Round 3 & 12

Verdict: Gold Coast’s start to the season is one you’ll want to capitalise on from a SuperCoach perspective, the only knock is that they’ve got a bye in round 3. Realistically, how many premiums can you pick with that in mind? They share the mid-year bye with Adelaide, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne. The likes of Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell could be some of the first upgrade targets in SuperCoach this year. 

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LOCK

The role of new recruit Christian Petracca ($522,300 MID/FWD) is a big watch throughout the practice matches, although you’d expect him to split his time as a midfielder and as a forward. If Petracca can replicate last year’s average of 96.5 points per game, he’d be a season-long keeper as a forward, but if he can get back to his form between 2020-2024, then he’d be a tantalising prospect and genuine F1 contender. 

POINT OF DIFFERENCE

Both are currently in approximately 11 per cent of teams apiece, but Noah Anderson ($619,700 MID) and Matt Rowell ($641,400 MID) have proven to be SuperCoach gold in recent years. Anderson rolled out 17 scores of 100+ last year and was a weekly captaincy option, although sometimes can attract a tag which means he can throw in the odd stinker or two.

Rowell also put up 17 SuperCoach centuries last year and caught fire late in the season, averaging 137.6 points per game between rounds 16 and 23. The Gold Coast skipper and the 2025 Brownlow Medallist, both are stars of the competition and score plenty of SuperCoach points. 

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CHEAPIES

Zeke Uwland ($199,000 DEF/MID) is the most switched on draftee I’ve ever come across and he’s well and truly firming for an Opening Round debut. Following the departure of Brayden Fiorini to Essendon, there’s a wing role open at the Suns and I think there’s a big chance Uwland claims it, but he’s also more than capable off half-back.

A classy ball-user who stepped up seamlessly to VFL level during his draft year, Uwland is a boom pick in SuperCoach this season and I think his scoring will warrant the elevated price tag.

Elsewhere, fellow Academy graduate Leo Lombard ($119,900 FWD) is hunting more consistent senior opportunities and has impressed over summer, while former Dog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan ($214,100 FWD) and speedster Dylan Patterson ($185,500 DEF) could both come into considerations if they are named for Opening Round.