Dwayne Russell names his most disappointing team of the 2024 AFL season

Dwayne Russell has labelled Gold Coast his biggest disappointment of the 2024 AFL season.

The Suns appeared primed to push for a maiden finals berth in Damien Hardwick’s first season at the helm, with an improving list and relatively easy fixture ahead of them at the start of the campaign.

While there was hope for the Suns, particularly when they moved to 7-5 after beating Essendon in Round 12 to enter the top eight, Gold Coast’s season tailed off from there, losing seven of their next 10 games.

As a result, the Suns now sit 14th and three wins adrift of eighth and Russell was disappointed to see them fall so short of expectations.

While they can win an 11th game of the season this Saturday against Richmond at the MCG – which would beat the club’s previous record of 10 wins in a campaign – Russell doesn’t think the club can put much of a positive spin onto the 2024 season.

“I'm trying to be glass half full,” Russell told SEN Afternoons.

“But if I was going to say who my most disappointing team was this year, it is Gold Coast.

“They do get off because they don't have a big supporter base that rattles the cage.

“They can get an 11th win for the first time in their club history this weekend. They've won 10 games two times before, but there's an extra game this year from the years where they've won 10.

“They'll probably sell that as a positive if they win an 11th game, but I don't think it's fooling anyone.

“It's a bit like me saying, ‘Please cut my pizza in six pieces because I'll feel fat if I eat eight’ (even though it’s the same size).

“I don't think it's going to fool anyone if they win another game this year.”

Saturday’s game against Richmond at the MCG begins at 2:10pm (AEST).