Gold Coast SUNS have confirmed its VFL side to take on the Smithy’s VFL Grand Finalists Southport Sharks in Friday’s practice match at Austworld Centre Training Oval.
Alex Sexton will lead the team onto the field at 3:00pm AEST as the curtain-raiser match prior to the SUNS AFL season opener.
13 AFL-listed players have been named as a part of the team opposing Southport, including defender Charlie Ballard and Gold Coast’s new recruit Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
The pre-season clash will mark Ballard's long-awaited return to the footy field after sustaining an ACL injury in the SUNS' first AFL match of 2025.
SUNS fans will get another look at 2025 Telstra AFL Draftees Avery Thomas, Dylan Patterson and Koby Coulson, as they too continue to master the SUNS system.
Patterson and Coulson form part of the four StreetSmarts SUNS Academy products named to play in Friday’s practice.
Entry to the Smithy’s VFL is free for all SUNS members and valid AFL ticket holders.
Cheer on the SUNS side before the People First Stadium gates open at 5:00pm ahead of the Gold Coast kickstarting its 2026 campaign at 7:05pm.
