Why Port Adelaide’s imposing record “doesn’t matter” to Gold Coast

Gold Coast has not beaten Port Adelaide since 2011.

The club’s sole win over the Power came back in their debut season in the AFL but they have been unsuccessful in 14 attempts since.

On Sunday, the two sides clash at People First Stadium where Damien Hardwick’s Suns are unbeaten in 2024.

So it presents as a peculiar match-up where a team that has been dominated by another for more than a decade returns to their home comforts where they’ve been imperious this season.

But looking specifically at the Power’s imposing 14-game run over the Suns, assistant coach Shaun Grigg insists the current crop of players and coaches will not read anything into it.

“That’s been the Gold Coast history,” Grigg said on SEN SA’s The Run Home.

“That’s why we’ve brought Damien Hardwick in and for us it’s a new dawn. We’re 16 games into our journey this year so we haven’t played Port Adelaide yet.

“The history to us doesn’t matter that much. We’re looking to win this week.

“We feel like our game, when its in good order, can beat anyone as we saw with last year’s premiers Collingwood.

“We’re confident that if we bring our best footy then it’s going to be a cracking game.”

Grigg also commented on Hardwick’s criticism of his side in the wake of last weekend’s disappointing defeat to North Melbourne.

He said it’s a good sign of a man who is intent on leading the forever-struggling Suns into an era of success.

“The beauty about ‘Dimma’ is he doesn’t have much patience. He wants to get to where we want to go really quickly,” he added.

“I think that’s a real strength of his, that he’s demanding that standard and that excellence. He doesn’t just demand that from the players, it’s also us coaches, the fitness staff, the whole club.

“That’s his greatest strength. He really believes in where we’re heading and what we’re capable of and he’s driving those high standards.

“That’s why Dimma has been such a great coach for such a long time.

“He can get the best out of the players and he knows which buttons to push.

“We’re looking for a response.”

The Suns enter the Round 18 clash as favourites over a Power side that is fresh off a 48-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

Port has never lost to Gold Coast at People First Stadium.