The SUNS will turn to memories of two brilliant home wins for a confidence booster as they prepare to step out for just the third time under Friday nights at People First Stadium this week.
The 7.40pm game against Hawthorn will be the club’s 11th in the Friday night timeslot, which has delivered a 4-6 record overall and a memory-filled 2-0 mark at home.
In Round 18 last year, as Oscar Adams played just his second AFL game in front of a sellout People First Stadium crowd of 22,831, the SUNS beat Collingwood by six points.
Matt Rowell (32), Noah Anderson (32) and John Noble (30) had 30-plus possessions, as Anderson (3) and Rowell (2) featured in the Brownlow Medal votes. Rowell (2) and Ben King (2) were the multiple goal-kickers.
And in Opening Round this year, in front of 19,859, the SUNS beat Geelong by 56 points in Zeke Uwland’s AFL debut, Christian Petracca’s first game in red and yellow, and Sam Collins’ 150th AFL game.
Petracca had a blistering 34 possessions and three goals, as Touk Miller collected 30 possessions and a goal, Noble had 28 possessions and two goals, and King and Bailey Humphrey kicked four goals apiece.
The Friday night home crowd against Collingwood last year was the biggest of the season, and going into Friday night’s game against Hawthorn, fourth on the AFL ladder and coming off a bye, the biggest crowd has been the Friday night season opener against Geelong of 19,859.
Despite the 4-6 record, the SUNS have an aggregate Friday night percentage of 105.8%, having lost once by four points and three times by 10 points, and won by 70 points and 56 points.
The SUNS have travelled far and wide to enjoy the prime-time slot, having played at TIO Stadium in Darwin and at Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval (twice), Norwood and GMHBA Stadium (once).
On a percentage basis, the Friday night time slot has been the best in club history, due in part to the fact that the club didn’t play in prime time until Round 13 of the 2020 COVID season.
While Petracca’s 34 possessions this year is the highest by a SUNS player on a Friday night, Noble has had the most 30-possession games with three.
King has kicked four goals on a Friday night three times, and Humphrey once.
Rowell and Anderson have polled 16 of the SUNS’ 17 Brownlow Medal votes to the end of last season, and Rowell has posted the club’s Friday night best for clearances and tackles.
Charlie Ballard pulled down eight contested marks against West Coast in Perth in Round 8, 2023 to set a mark which is a club best in all games.
And Anderson and King have played in each of the club’s 10 Friday night games.
SUNS Results in Friday night games:-
1 – R13 2020 – Lost by 33 points v Carlton at TIO Stadium
2 – R3 2021 – Lost by 10 points v Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
3 – R5 2023 – Lost by 10 points v Fremantle at Norwood Oval
4 – R9 2023 – Won by 70 points v West Coast at Optus Stadium
5 – R22 2024 – Lost by 10 points v West Coast at Optus Stadium
6 – R18 2025 – Won by six points v Collingwood at People First Stadium
7 – R24 2025 – Lost by four points v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
8 – OR 2026 – Won by 56 points v Geelong at People First Stadium
9 – R10 2026 – Won by 25 points v Port Adelaide in Darwin
10 – R14 2026 – Lost by 45 points v Geelong in Geelong
Most Friday Night Games - Anderson, King (10), Collins, Wil Powell (9), Mac Andrew, Miller, Lachie Weller, Jarrod Witts (8), Humphrey, Rowell (7).
30-Possession Games - Petracca 34, Anderson 33-32, Rowell 32-30, Noble 31-30-30, Bodhi Uwland 31, Miller 30.
Brownlow Medal Votes - 8 – Rowell (3, 3, 2, 1), 8 – Anderson (3, 3, 2), 1 – King
Most Clearances – 12 – Rowell (twice), 10 – Hugh Greenwood, 9 – Petracca, 8 – Anderson (three times), Miller.
Most Tackles – 17 – Rowell, 13 – Rowell, Greenwood, 11 – Rowell, Anderson, Greenwood.
Most Bounces – 5 – Daniel Rioli (three times), Joel Jeffrey.
