Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans has attempted to explain coach Damien Hardwick's post-match remarks, declaring season 2026 is "effectively" gone after the club's 79-point loss to Adelaide.
The Suns have fallen from premiership contenders in fourth place after Round 10 to lose seven consecutive matches since their trip to Darwin, bundling out of the top 10 and prompting Hardwick's ruthless assessment.
“What we've got to do is forge our way forward about what we want ourselves to look like for next year, from my point of view,” the Suns coach said.
“The way we're playing, we don't deserve to make it.”
With six games to go, Hardwick's comments raised eyebrows given the definitive nature despite sitting only a game outside the Wildcard Round slot.
Evans, in a statement provided to Channel Nine's Footy Classified, was pragmatic, saying the comment was driven by Saturday's performance, indicating the club must improve in order to earn wins, and the opportunity to return to September.
"That comment was a reaction to how we felt after a performance well below our best, and what's needed to compete with the best in the competition," Evans said.
"All of our efforts have to go into getting improved performances - and wins. The ladder positions, and chances of finals come from that."
