| 2011 season | |
|---|---|
| President | John Witheriff |
| Coach | Guy McKenna |
| Captain | Gary Ablett, Jr. |
| Home ground | Metricon Stadium |
| NAB Cup | Qualifying finals |
| AFL season | 17th (Wooden Spoon) |
| Best and Fairest | Gary Ablett, Jr. |
| Leading goalkicker | Danny Stanley (20 goals) |
| Highest home attendance | 27,914 |
The 2011 AFL season was the Gold Coast Suns' first season in the Australian Football League (AFL). The Gold Coast Suns reserves team also competed in the inaugural NEAFL season.
| Round | Pick | Player | State/Nationality | Recruited From | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | David Swallow | | East Fremantle Sharks | WAFL |
| 1 | 2 | Harley Bennell | | Peel Thunder | WAFL |
| 1 | 3 | Sam Day | | Sturt Double Blues | SANFL |
| 1 | 7 | Josh Caddy | | Northern Knights | TAC Cup |
| 1 | 9 | Dion Prestia | | Calder Cannons | TAC Cup |
| 1 | 10 | Daniel Gorringe | | Norwood Redlegs | SANFL |
| 1 | 11 | Tom Lynch | | Dandenong Stingrays | TAC Cup |
| 1 | 13 | Seb Tape | | Glenelg Tigers | SANFL |
| 2 | 39 | Jeremy Taylor | | Geelong Falcons | TAC Cup |
| 3 | 49 | Jacob Gilbee | | Lauderdale Bombers | TFL |
| Pre-season Draft | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Nathan Ablett | | Broadbeach Cats | QAFL |
| Rookie Draft | |||||
| 1 | 9 | Joel Tippett | | Brisbane Lions | AFL |
| 6 | 82 | Jake Crawford | | Southport Sharks | QAFL |
| Players Added Via trade | Players Lost Via trade |
| 7 October 2010 | To Fremantle Dockers
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| 7 October 2010 | To Collingwood Magpies
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| 8 October 2010 | To Brisbane Lions
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| 10 October 2010 | To Fremantle Dockers
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| 11 October 2010 | To North Melbourne Kangaroos
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| 11 October 2010 | To Port Adelaide Power
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| 11 October 2010 | To Geelong Cats
| To Gold Coast Suns
|
| Player | Signed | Former Team |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Bock | Signed 3 Year Contract | Adelaide Crows |
| Nathan Krakouer | Signed 3 Year Contract | Port Adelaide Power |
| Michael Rischitelli | Signed 3 Year Contract | Brisbane Lions |
| Campbell Brown | Signed 3 Year Contract | Hawthorn Hawks |
| Jarrod Harbrow | Signed 3 Year Contract | Western Bulldogs |
| Gary Ablett Jr | Signed 5 Year Contract | Geelong Cats |
| Josh Fraser | Signed 2 Year Contract | Collingwood Magpies |
| Jared Brennan | Signed 3 Year Contract | Brisbane Lions |
| Senior list [1] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Born | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Date of birth | Age in 2011 | Debut | Recruited from | 2011 Games | 2011 Goals | Career Games | Career Goals |
| 1 | | Marc Lock | 192 | 83 | 21 June 1991 | 20 | 2011 | Labrador Tigers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | | Zac Smith | 205 | 97 | 22 February 1990 | 21 | 2011 | Southport Sharks | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
| 3 | | Jared Brennan | 195 | 95 | 28 July 1984 | 27 | 2003 | Brisbane Lions | 15 | 10 | 134 | 85 |
| 4 | | Maverick Weller | 182 | 79 | 13 February 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Burnie Dockers | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| 5 | | Jarrod Harbrow | 178 | 74 | 18 July 1988 | 23 | 2007 | Western Bulldogs | 15 | 0 | 85 | 21 |
| 7 | | Karmichael Hunt | 186 | 92 | 17 November 1986 | 25 | 2011 | N/A | 12 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| 8 | | Luke Russell | 186 | 78 | 24 January 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Burnie Dockers | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| 9 | | Gary Ablett, Jr. | 182 | 85 | 14 May 1984 | 27 | 2002 | Geelong Cats | 14 | 15 | 206 | 277 |
| 10 | | Lewis Moss | 195 | 80 | 4 February 1992 | 19 | **** | Port Douglas AFC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | | Jack Stanlake | 191 | 79 | 28 February 1991 | 20 | **** | Southport Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | | Hayden Jolly | 184 | 83 | 4 April 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Glenelg Tigers | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | | Nathan Krakouer | 182 | 78 | 5 May 1988 | 23 | 2007 | Port Adelaide Power | 9 | 7 | 49 | 14 |
| 15 | | Piers Flanagan | 189 | 74 | 31 March 1992 | 19 | **** | Geelong Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | | Rory Thompson | 200 | 91 | 12 March 1991 | 20 | 2011 | Southport Sharks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | | Josh Fraser | 202 | 100 | 5 January 1982 | 29 | 2000 | Collingwood Magpies | 10 | 8 | 210 | 164 |
| 18 | | Trent McKenzie | 191 | 82 | 3 April 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Western Jets | 14 | 8 | 14 | 8 |
| 19 | | Joseph Daye | 195 | 85 | 2 February 1990 | 21 | 2011 | Southport Sharks | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 | | Josh Toy | 185 | 87 | 18 April 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Calder Cannons | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 21 | | Daniel Harris | 180 | 82 | 10 May 1982 | 29 | 2001 | North Melbourne Kangaroos | 10 | 2 | 159 | 46 |
| 22 | | Tom Nicholls | 201 | 93 | 4 March 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Sandringham Dragons | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | | Charlie Dixon | 202 | 107 | 23 September 1990 | 21 | 2011 | Redland Bombers | 9 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| 24 | | David Swallow | 186 | 83 | 19 November 1992 | 19 | 2011 | East Fremantle Sharks | 14 | 9 | 14 | 9 |
| 25 | | Daniel Stanley | 187 | 88 | 18 February 1988 | 23 | 2007 | Collingwood Magpies | 15 | 13 | 20 | 13 |
| 26 | | Matt Shaw | 187 | 71 | 5 February 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Dandenong Stingrays | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
| 27 | | Michael Coad | 190 | 86 | 13 September 1983 | 28 | **** | Sturt Blues | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | | Taylor Hine | 184 | 75 | 24 January 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Calder Cannons | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Campbell Brown | 179 | 81.5 | 28 August 1983 | 28 | 2002 | Hawthorn Hawks | 11 | 0 | 170 | 64 |
| 32 | | Brandon Matera | 175 | 65 | 11 March 1992 | 19 | 2011 | South Fremantle Bulldogs | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 |
| 33 | | Rex Liddy | 185 | 86 | 2 January 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Kenmore Bears | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 34 | | Jack Hutchins | 191 | 92 | 20 February 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Sandringham Dragons | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 35 | | Michael Rischitelli | 184 | 81.6 | 8 January 1986 | 25 | 2004 | Brisbane Lions | 14 | 5 | 125 | 52 |
| 36 | | Sam Iles | 185 | 83 | 19 June 1985 | 26 | 2006 | Box Hill Hawks | 12 | 7 | 19 | 7 |
| 37 | | Harley Bennell | 185 | 74 | 2 October 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Peel Thunder | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| 38 | | Joel Wilkinson | 186 | 81 | 29 November 1991 | 20 | 2011 | Broadbeach Cats | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 39 | | Sam Day | 196 | 96 | 6 September 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Sturt Blues | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| 40 | | Tom Hickey | 201.4 | 87.4 | 6 March 1991 | 20 | **** | Morningside Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | | Dion Prestia | 175 | 82 | 12 October 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Calder Cannons | 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| 42 | | Josh Caddy | 186 | 82 | 28 September 1992 | 19 | **** | Northern Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | | Liam Patrick | 189 | 71.9 | 4 March 1988 | 23 | 2011 | Wanderers Eagles | 12 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| 44 | | Nathan Bock | 193 | 93 | 20 March 1983 | 28 | 2004 | Adelaide Crows | 14 | 1 | 127 | 58 |
| 45 | | Steven May | 190 | 93 | 10 January 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Melbourne Grammar School | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 46 | | Thomas Lynch | 199 | 91 | 31 October 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Dandenong Stingrays | 9 | 14 | 9 | 14 |
| 47 | | Daniel Gorringe | 200 | 88 | 2 June 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Norwood Redlegs | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| 48 | | Seb Tape | 191 | 81 | 6 August 1992 | 19 | 2011 | Glenelg Tigers | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 49 | | Jacob Gillbee | 184 | 76 | 13 September 1992 | 19 | **** | Lauderdale Bombers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 | | Jeremy Taylor | 191 | 83 | 17 June 1992 | 19 | **** | Geelong Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 55 | | Nathan Ablett | 194 | 96 | 13 December 1985 | 26 | 2005 | Geelong Football Club | 0 | 0 | 32 | 46 |
| Rookie list | ||||||||||||
| No. | Born | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Date of birth | Age in 2011 | Debut | Recruited from | 2011 Games | 2011 Goals | Career Games | Career Goals |
| 6 | | Alik Magin | 181 | 72 | 13 April 1991 | 20 | 2011 | Labrador Tigers | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 28 | | Roland Ah Chee | 181 | 79 | 21 November 1990 | 21 | **** | Norwood Redlegs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | | Jack Stanley | 192 | 87 | 3 January 1990 | 21 | **** | Zillmere Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | | Jake Crawford | 190 | 89 | 5 March 1992 | 19 | **** | Southport Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 52 | | Joel Tippett | 197 | 91 | 26 October 1988 | 23 | **** | Brisbane Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 pre-season games: 2-1 (Home: 0-0; Away: 2–1) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Date | Team | Score | Most Goals | Most Disposals | Venue Attendance | Record |
| 1 | 19 February | Sydney | W 25-22 | - (-) | - (-) | Blacktown Olympic Park 10,000 | 1–0 |
| 2 | 19 February | Greater Western Sydney | W 52-27 | - (-) | - (-) | Blacktown Olympic Park 9,947 | 2–0 |
| 3 | 27 February | West Coast | L 50-87 | - (-) | - (-) | Subiaco Oval 12,625 | 2–1 |
| 4 | 5 March | Sydney | L 23-95 | - (-) | - (-) | Fankhauser Reserve 2,859 | 2–2 |
| 5 | 13 March | Brisbane | L 54-122 | - (-) | - (-) | Fankhauser Reserve 4,053 | 2–3 |
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | % | Pts | W | D | L | W | D | L | ||
| 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1534 | 2726 | 56.27 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 9 | ||
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collingwood | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2592 | 1546 | 167.7 | 80 | Finals series |
| 2 | Geelong (P) | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2548 | 1619 | 157.4 | 76 | |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2355 | 1634 | 144.1 | 72 | |
| 4 | West Coast | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2235 | 1715 | 130.3 | 68 | |
| 5 | Carlton | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 2225 | 1700 | 130.9 | 58 | |
| 6 | St Kilda | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1891 | 1677 | 112.8 | 50 | |
| 7 | Sydney | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1897 | 1735 | 109.3 | 50 | |
| 8 | Essendon | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 2217 | 2217 | 100.0 | 46 | |
| 9 | North Melbourne | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2106 | 2082 | 101.2 | 40 | |
| 10 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2060 | 2155 | 95.6 | 36 | |
| 11 | Fremantle | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1791 | 2155 | 83.1 | 36 | |
| 12 | Richmond | 22 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 2069 | 2396 | 86.4 | 34 | |
| 13 | Melbourne | 22 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 1974 | 2315 | 85.3 | 34 | |
| 14 | Adelaide | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1742 | 2193 | 79.4 | 28 | |
| 15 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1814 | 2240 | 81.0 | 16 | |
| 16 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1718 | 2663 | 64.5 | 12 | |
| 17 | Gold Coast | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1534 | 2726 | 56.3 | 12 |
(hits the dab)
Brownlow Medal
| Gold Coast Club Champion
| Other Awards
|
| Player | Games |
|---|---|
| Trent McKenzie | 2 |
| Zac Smith | 2 |
| Round | Date and local time | Opponent | Scores(Gold Coast's scores indicated in bold) | Venue | Ladder position | ||
| Home | Away | Result | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday, 2 April (12:30 pm) | Mount Gravatt | 10.11 (71) | 15.9 (99) | Lost by 28 points | H & A Oval [H] | - |
| 2 | Saturday, 9 April (7:00 pm) | Northern Territory | 11.15 (81) | 11.6 (72) | Lost by 9 points | TIO Stadium [A] | - |
| 3 | Saturday, 16 April (11:15 am) | Aspley | 16.16 (112) | 11.13 (79) | Won by 33 points | H & A Oval [H] | - |
| 4 | Saturday, 23 April (2:00 pm) | Labrador | 9.4 (58) | 13.12 (90) | Won by 32 points | Cooke-Murphy Reserve [A] | - |
| 5 | Saturday, 30 April (2:00 pm) | Mount Gravatt | 11.8 (75) | 12.16 (88) | Won by 13 points | Dittmer Park [A] | - |
| 6 | Saturday, 7 May (11:00 am) | Brisbane (res) | 17.18 (120) | 9.9 (63) | Won by 57 points | Fankhauser Reserve [H] | - |
| 7 | Saturday, 14 May (1:50 pm) | Sydney (res) | 18.12 (120) | 3.10 (28) | Lost by 9 points | Lakeside Oval [A] | - |
| 8 | Bye | - | |||||
| 9 | Saturday, 28 May (1:15 pm) | Southport | 18.5 (113) | 11.11 (77) | Won by 56 points | Sir Bruce Small Park [H] | - |
| 10 | Saturday, 4 June (12:15 pm) | GWS | 17.9 (111) | 11.8 (74) | Lost by 37 points | Blacktown Olympic Park [A] | - |
| 11 | Saturday, 11 June (1:00 pm) | Morningside | 12.10 (82) | 12.8 (80) | Won by 2 points | H & A Oval [H] | - |
| 12 | Bye | - | |||||
| 13 | Sunday, 26 June (3:15 pm) | Redland | 11.15 (81) | 19.13 (127) | Won by 46 points | Yeronga [A] | - |
| 14 | Saturday, 2 July (2:00 pm) | Southport | 9.6 (60) | 24.11 (155) | Won by 95 points | Fankhauser Reserve [A] | - |
| 15 | Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm) | Sydney (res) | 21.15 (141) | 9.8 (62) | Won by 79 points | Carrara Stadium [H] | - |
| 16 | Saturday, 16 July (10:15 am) | Northern Territory | 10.10 (70) | 20.9 (129) | Lost by 59 points | Cazaly's Stadium [H] | - |
| 17 | Saturday, 23 July (3:25 pm) | Brisbane (res) | 18.10 (118) | 7.13 (55) | Won by 63 points | Carrara Stadium [H] | - |
| 18 | Bye | - | |||||
| 19 | Saturday, 6 August (2:00 am) | Broadbeach | 14.14 (98) | 12.8 (80) | Lost by 16 points | H & A Oval [A] | - |
| 20 | Saturday, 13 August (2:00 am) | Brisbane (res) | 11.17 (83) | 12.7 (79) | Lost by 4 points | Coorparoo Oval [A] | - |
| 21 | Sunday, 20 August (10:10 am) | GWS | 22.17 (149) | 7.10 (52) | Won by 97 points | Carrara Stadium [H] | - |
| 22 | Bye | 3rd | |||||
| Week | Date and local time | Opponent | Scores (Gold Coast's scores indicated in bold) | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Away | Result | ||||
| QF | Sunday, 28 August (2:00 pm) | Mount Gravatt | 26.12 (168) | 16.6 (102) | Lost by 66 points | Victoria Point [A] |
| SF | Saturday, 3 September (9:10 pm) | Morningside | 7.10 (52) | 19.13 (127) | Lost by 75 points | Fankhauser Reserve [H] |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NT Thunder (P)(C) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2068 | 1436 | 144.0 | 56 |
| 2 | Mount Gravatt | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1804 | 1645 | 109.7 | 48 |
| 3 | Gold Coast | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1752 | 1461 | 119.9 | 44 |
| 4 | Morningside | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1641 | 1719 | 95.5 | 38 |
| 5 | Aspley | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1699 | 1625 | 104.6 | 36 |
| 6 | Broadbeach | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1595 | 1621 | 98.4 | 36 |
| 7 | Southport | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1538 | 1664 | 92.4 | 36 |
| 8 | Redland | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1740 | 1741 | 99.9 | 32 |
| 9 | Labrador | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1389 | 1783 | 77.9 | 20 |
| 10 | Brisbane | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1540 | 1864 | 82.6 | 18 |