Gold Coast's travelling woes have continued despite a record start to the 2025 campaign.
The Suns' first loss of the season has come to the rebuilding Richmond outfit under the roof at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
But the "disappointment" for Damien Hardwick at the Docklands has reared its ugly head once again, following his infamous comments in 2021 as Tigers coach.
Hardwick declared he "hated" the "soulless" stadium four years ago, and since then, he has sung the team song once..
The Tigers had six matches at Marvel Stadium since that point, recording five losses and a draw before he quit as coach. Last year as the Suns leader, he went one victory from four starts, which included a Mac Andrew goal-after-the-siren.
Ironically, it was Richmond's first win at the ground since 2021.
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"It's disappointing," Hardwick said.
"Some things we worked on last year, we took a step back tonight. But that's AFL footy."
Richmond were able to rile up the youthful Suns outfit, which resulted in many "undisciplined" acts that proved to be the difference in the 11-point margin.
Gold Coast lean on the tough and uncompromising theme of NBA team Detroit Pistons in the 1980s and 90s, who were coined 'The Bad Boys', as inspiration.
But Hardwick thought the players took it too literally on Saturday night.
"It was undisciplined and that sort of stuff happens in footy, but the reality is it's not how hard you hit, it's how firm you hold the line and we didn't hold the line," Hardwick said.
"They got through us, and we were too busy pushing and shoving, which is fine from time to time.
"But your toughness is measured by putting your head over the ball and holding firm we you need to.
"We didn't do that tonight, and it's a lesson learnt."
Hardwick denied that Andrew needed a talking to, despite another game where opponents have gotten under his skin.
The Suns unicorn hit the front page of the paper after his bout with Adelaide's Riley Thilthorpe earlier in the year, and tension rose as former Gold Coast player Tom Lynch hit the scoreboard early.
"I'll speak to Mac, but I'd much rather pull him back than have to wind him up," Hardwick said.
"That's the nature of the beast. He's going to overstep the mark - 80 per cent of the time he's going to be really good, 20 per cent of the time he's going to go over.
"Today he went over, but he's a really good player and he's a young player.
"People sort of judge him unfairly at different stages, but he's 21 years of age."
Gold Coast will get a chance to return to the winner's list against Sydney in Round 7, hosting last year's grand finalists at People First Stadium.
