Why Cornes is certain Gold Coast play finals for the first time in 2024

Are Gold Coast locked in for finals after just 10 games in 2024?

Kane Cornes certainly thinks so despite the side sitting just sixth on the ladder with a game in hand and a win-loss record of 6-4.

Cornes feels that way because the Suns play four more games against the current bottom five of St Kilda, Hawthorn, West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne.

If that gets them to 10 wins, Cornes sees the Suns winning enough of their other games against sides ranked one to 13 to play September footy for the first time in club history. Last year, Sydney finished eighth with 12 wins and one draw to their name, meaning they may only need to go 3-7 in those other clashes to qualify.

Cornes spoke about Gold Coast’s finals hopes with David King on SEN Breakfast following their 164-100 win over Geelong in Darwin on Thursday night.

King: “They’re 6-4 now, So, are they in for the finals?”

Cornes: “100 per cent. Their draw is very favourable.”

King: “Are you on board now?”

Cornes: “They're coming.”

King: “But you’ve been giving it to them for two years?

Cornes: “Rightly so. What have what have they done to this point? It's not hard to build when you're given what they've been given, of course, they're building. Have you seen the talent that they were given…

“But they shouldn't miss finals from here. They’ve got West Coast again, they’ve got North (Melbourne) again, they’ve got Richmond again. They've got a very favourable draw.”

King: “They've never been on six wins after 10 weeks. This is different and this is why you go after Damien Hardwick.

“This is why it’s going to be an outrageous success.”

Gold Coast next face Carlton in a Round 11 clash at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, May 25.