Gold Coast SUNS finals football returns to People First Stadium as the team gears up for an exciting elimination final match-up against Hawthorn. This marks the SUNS' third AFLW finals campaign, following previous appearances in 2020 and 2023.

Sunday's game will be just the second time the club has hosted a finals match on home turf. Key players from the 2023 squad remain on the list, including co-captains Lucy Single and Niamh McLaughlin.

The SUNS have since bolstered their squad with premiership experience, bringing in three-time premiership winner Anne Hatchard and 2022 champion Lily Mithen. At the same time, an exciting wave of young talent has burst onto the scene in 2026, with several of the club’s Round 1 debutants in the mix to be on the finals stage for the first time, including StreetSmarts SUNS Academy graduates Georja Davies, Ava Usher, Sunny Lappin and Dekota Baron.

With the SUNS narrowly missing out on a top-four spot, defender Daisy D’Arcy says Rhyce Shaw’s side will be hoping to use their home ground to their advantage on Sunday.

“We would have liked to have finished fourth, but we like to take the long way home, so being at home will be a good advantage,” D’Arcy said.

“A lot of the girls are local so it's pretty good for junior footballers here on the Gold Coast as well to come and watch what their pathways can look like and look at some of the superstars out there.”

The 23-year-old reflected on her 2023 elimination final against Sydney and is relishing the opportunity to play in finals once again.

“I think that was pretty special. I think I was probably the age of some of the girls now, I was only young but I just remember that being pretty cool. Being at home, it was something truly special and it's pretty cool to have that chance again,” D’Arcy said.

“Hopefully a different result but it’s just really cool as the girls worked so hard and really deserve it.”

Now considered one of the senior players in the team, D’Arcy shared the advice being given to her young teammates who will be experiencing finals for the first time.

“We sort of spoke about it the other day as a group. It's something you should be really excited for. To not add any extra stress, go out there and play the great brand of footy they've been playing the whole time and have fun.”

A win in Sunday’s elimination final at People First Stadium will mean the team progresses to the semi-final the following week against the loser of the qualifying final between North Melbourne and Carlton.

Be a part of the action at People First Stadium on Sunday 8 November at 2.05pm and secure your tickets here.