Christian Petracca dominates for Gold Coast Suns against Geelong Cats in his first game since his move from Melbourne Demons
“He’s always there,” Petracca said. “That was a life-changing moment for me. It’s crazy how life-changing moments change the course of life. In that sense, the universe and things like that are pretty amazing. I’m not going to get too spiritual with you.”
“This is part of my identity and my journey.”
Damien Hardwick admitted he was thrilled with what Petracca showed on the pitch and praised him for the bond he has formed with his team-mates after moving to the Gold Coast.
“His ability to win the ball forward of the center and use the ball beyond the center is why we brought him to the football club,” Hardwick said.
Petracca became the highest-profile player to join the Suns since Hardwick was appointed manager in August 2023, telling reporters “80 per cent of our first Premier team are sitting in this room right now.”
Since then, the Suns have added Dan Rioli, John Noble, Leo Lombard, Zeke Uwland, Dylan Patterson, Jai Murray and Beau Addinsall, as well as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan from the Bulldogs.
Petracca embraces teammate Touk Miller after the Norm Smith medalist’s stunning debut with the Suns.Credit: AFL Pictures
While Jake Rogers was playing VFL, Brownlow medalist Matt Rowell (injured) and suspended Jed Walter were also absent.
Ugle-Hagan will need to earn a spot on the team; Hardwick emphasized the need to highlight the talented but headstrong player, who was away from football last season due to personal problems, for success.
“We’ll release him when he’s ready to go,” Hardwick said.
The coach has admitted Ugle-Hagan wants to play in the AFL but the three-time premiership coach is not afraid to resist the pressure.
“He is a driven and very competitive individual,” Hardwick said. “It’s great that this kid plays, but it’s also [going to be] It’s great for the AFL world to see what this could turn into. We know he has great talent, he had a tough road. “We’re sitting there ready to give him a chance, but we also want to make sure that when he has the right to go, he has the right to go.”
Tanner Bruhn makes strong return to CatsCredit: AFL Pictures
Meanwhile, Geelong coach Chris Scott said he would not overreact to the Cats’ performances despite their disappointment.
“We probably needed them to be away a little bit, and they were the exact opposite,” Scott said of the Suns. “We will be better at running”
The bright spot for the Cats was the form of Tanner Bruhn, who missed last season when he faced sexual assault charges; Those charges were dropped in November after a key witness admitted lying in court.
Bruhn collected 31 touches and made plenty of runs.
“He’s definitely going to be an asset to us. It’s even a little frustrating that we don’t have him.” [last year] because he is the kind of player we need from time to time. It was really positive and I was happy for him,” Scott said.
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