Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon Bombers Tips - Hot Suns to blow up Bombers revival
- Gold Coast have already posted 56 and 59-point wins from two home matches this season.
- The Suns’ key edge is contested strength and forward connection
- Ben King remains the standout scoring angle, already with 21 goals this season and a huge record against Essendon.
- Best play is Suns 40+, with Matt Rowell set for another big midfield game.
Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon Bombers Preview
- Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon Bombers Preview
- Head to Head
- Gold Coast Suns Form Analysis
- Gold Coast Suns Team News
- Essendon Bombers Form Analysis
- Essendon Bombers Team News
Gold Coast will bounce back from a two-match losing streak with a big win against Essendon.
The Suns return to their home ground, where they have already produced 56 and 59-point wins this season, and they now get key reinforcements with Christian Petracca and Bailey Humphrey set to return.
But it won’t be easy against an Essendon outfit that were Essendon were excellent in breaking their 17-game losing streak against Melbourne. The Bombers will look to replicate the midfield and half-back connection that worked so well last week in the 45-point win over the Demons.
But Gold Coast’s depth and contested strength at home will be a much stiffer test than Melbourne’s effort last week, and the Suns should be able to pressure Essendon’s exits far more aggressively, forcing the Bombers into the sort of rushed handball and turnover chains that have hurt them repeatedly against quality opposition in the past year.
Look for a deliberate focus from the Suns on lowering the eyes going forward and creating cleaner looks for Ben King and Jed Walter. The return of Petracca and Humphrey gives them more genuine difference-makers around stoppage and through the arcs, which should ease the pressure on Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell.
Take the Suns by 40+ with King amongst the goals, while Matt Rowell is likely to thrive in a high-contested Round 6 match.
- Gold Coast have won their two home matches this season by 56 and 59 points.
- The Suns won by 95-points the last time the two sides met.
- Ben King has kicked 21 goals this season and had seven the last time the two sides met
- Matt Rowell had 32 disposals last weekend in his second match back from injury.
Head to Head
Gold Coast were 95-point winners in the final match of the 2025 home and away season against an Essendon side that were running on empty. The Suns have won the past four between the two sides.
Noah Anderson has had 30+ disposals in three of his past four for the Suns, while Essendon’s Zach Merrett has hit the 30+ in seven of his past eight. He had 28 in the other. Ben King kicked seven goals for Gold Coast the last time the two sides met and has 18 from his past four against the red and black.
Gold Coast Suns Form Analysis
Gold Coast have lost their past two and went down to Melbourne by 20 points in Round 4 before the 32-point defeat at the hands of Sydney in Gather Round. They failed to handle the Swans’ relentless pressure and lacked system going forward, while they were inaccurate, kicking 9.14.
Ben King kicked two goals, his lowest return of the year. The tall forward still leads the AFL goalkicking table with 21 goals from five matches. The 2025 Brownlow Medallist, Matt Rowell, kept the Suns in the contest with 32 disposals and eight clearances in his second game back from injury, while Touk Miller had 26 disposals.
The Suns’ score of 68 was their lowest of the season, but they still average over 100 points per game and return to their home ground, where they registered 56 and 59-point wins over West Coast Eagles and Geelong Cats earlier in the season. They have won seven of their past eight at the venue.
Gold Coast Suns Team News
Daniel Rioli rolled his ankle in the loss to the Swans but returned to play out the match and is expected to be okay. The Suns are set to be bolstered by the return of Christian Petracca from a hamstring injury and Bailey Humphrey from suspension.
Essendon Bombers Form Analysis
Essendon snapped a 17-game losing streak with their 45-point win over Melbourne, a victory that was built on the back of improved team defence, as well as clearance and contested possession dominance.
They registered 17.11 (113), the first time they have reached three figures since Round 2 last season. They had five multiple goalkickers, including Nate Caddy, who has booted 10 from five matches this season.
The Bombers’ previous interstate form remains a concern, with their past five against interstate opposition all resulting in losses prior to the Melbourne breakthrough, including the 63-point defeat to Port Adelaide Power earlier this year.
Archie Roberts picked up 42 disposals, following up from his 37 against the Bulldogs a week earlier, while Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish also hit the 30+ mark. Merrett has now reached that figure in his past two.
Essendon Bombers Team News
There were no injuries for Essendon out of the win over Melbourne. Zach Reid is a chance to make his return, while Nick Bryan made a successful return from an ACL injury in the Bombers’ last VFL match, putting selection pressure on the starting 23.
Verdict
Gold Coast to have the answers with King and Rowell among the major contributers
Gold Coast 40+
Margin
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Matt Rowell 30+
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