The Gold Coast Suns were a favourite to compete for the flag this season after a promising 2025 campaign, however they have drastically underperformed and are now faced with major questions regarding their roster’s future.

The Suns reached an all-time high heading into 2026; after winning in their inaugural finals campaign against Fremantle and Matt Rowell's Brownlow Medal triumph, the club added a significant free agent signing in Norm Smith winner Christian Petracca to what was already considered a top list in the league.

That said, Gold Coast fell well short of expectations, finishing 13th on the ladder including a 10-game losing streak - the club's fourth longest losing streak in history.

The Suns struggles continue this season, with restricted free agent Ben King, the clubs six-time leading goalkicker, telling the club he is open to exploring a return home to a Victorian club.

Kane Cornes and David King gave their insights on the disappointing season and what the Suns need to climb back up the ladder.

“Do you take Pick 6 (for Ben King) and go, were going to struggle to get much better than that, or do you want to see Hawthorn squirm a little bit and have to come and pay up? Cornes told SEN’s Fireball”

King added: “Whatever serves your club the best, you’ve just got to park the ego a little bit sometimes.

“Is it a good deal? No it's probably not - you’re giving away a 60-plus goal kicker, they're hard to find.”

“Is Jed Walter going to be the guy?”

Cornes: “There is attributes I really like about him, but he’s not ready to be the guy yet.”

King: “I think Mac Andrew should be ruck/forward. I still think he’s got more to give.

“They have to uncover something, they’ve got to find something in Mac. I think he could be a special talent, but we just don’t see it often enough.”

Cornes: “Centre bounce Bailey Humphries might be a different beast; the sky’s the limit for this guy.”

King responded with his standout player: “Leo Lombard is their biggest wildcard, he’s got a stamp, he’s got speed, he’s got a bit of arrogance about the way he plays.

“Go and be a star go and have the big preseason, come back ripping fit and take this club to the promise land.”

Both Cornes and King questioned the Suns mentality and believed that they didn’t show enough resilience when the season got tough.

“We couldn’t have got this more wrong.” Cornes said in response to his preseason prediction.

“They are sooks and they lack resilience. I see the oppositions best midfielders absolutely destroy them week after week.

“No one is prepared to take any accountability, including the coach on that one.

“There is a soft underbelly with this group. There's really no standout for me in terms of the best player.”

David King added, “When it’s got hard, they haven’t applied themselves with the same ferocity they did in 2025.

“They allow teams to get on runs and dominate them for large periods.

“When Rowell wasn’t there to start the year, they didn’t look to have the hardness, the anger that you’ve always seen.

“There 12th in turning possession into score and 14th against, so in the end you get beaten in the ball movement game and that just means you can’t compete.

“When those senior players let you down, you’re in trouble. They just don’t trust the kids.

“They just didn’t get it right from a coaching point of view.”

Listen to the rest of conversation below as Cornes and King break down what lies ahead for the Gold Coast Suns.