The SUNS will hit the second half of the 2024 season running following a third-straight season returning undefeated from its Northern Territory voyage.

SUNS Media takes a look at some of the key takeaways from a week in the Top End, thanks to SIXT.

Records tumble

Record after record were smashed in one of the club’s finest nights against Geelong in Round 10.

  • GC SUNS highest-ever score: 164 points
  • Largest score at TIO Stadium: 164 points
  • SUNS largest winning margin v Geelong: 64 points
  • Matt Rowell fastest player to record 500 tackles: 72 games
  • GC SUNS highest-scoring second half: 93 points
  • GC SUNS equal-largest three-quarter time lead: 66 points
  • Second-largest score by a Damien Hardwick coached team: 164 points
  • First time five GC SUNS players with 30+ disposals
  • Most combined points in a GC SUNS match: 264 points
  • Noah Anderson most disposals in a match at TIO Stadium: 42 disposals
Homegrown heroes

Ben Long eluded to it in a press conference a fortnight ago, that the SUNS’ Darwin brigade always have one eye on the annual trip to the Territory and boy did they deliver.

Joel Jeffrey’s no stranger to putting on a show at TIO Stadium, but the Round 9 clash against North Melbourne was a first at the top level for Lloyd Johnston – the boy from Borroloola. With a plethora of family and friends tucked into the pocket, Johnston lit up the NT and fittingly slotted his maiden AFL goal against the Roos. Returning for just his third and fourth games of the season, Long did his chances of holding his spot no harm with three goals across the two matches.

05:34

RD9 Darwin | Long "It's great to be back home"

Ben Long on travelling to Darwin and playing in front of his friends and family tomorrow night!

Jack Luko5ius

Six players have kicked five goals in a match at TIO Stadium, no player has done it twice. Luko’s now done it three times.

Three first-quarter goals had the crowd sensing a big night for the dynamic forward and he delivered with yet another record-equalling haul. He now finds himself just two goals behind venue record-holder Brad Johnson (17 goals) who, fittingly, was boundary-side on Thursday night.

Remarkably, Ben King’s haul of four goals has also rocketed him into outright third at the venue with 12 goals from five outings.

00:33

RD10 | Lurking Lukosius picks young Cat's pocket

Toby Conway takes an impressive mark in defence before a shoddy kick gifts Jack Lukosius the easiest of goals

DarWWWWWWin

Gold Coast’s love affair with Darwin footy continued, extending the unbeaten run at TIO Stadium to six matches whilst also recording the club’s largest and third-largest victories at the venue.

It’s been sheer dominance in the Top End for the SUNS, winning those six matches by an average of 49 points.

Darwin shows out in numbers

Darwin got behind the SUNS amidst renewed conversations of a club becoming the Territory’s own.

The Thursday night crowd of 12,112 is the largest at TIO Stadium for an AFL match since 2006.

Inspiring Territorians

There was plenty of memorable moments on field, but equally as many away from the lights and cameras.

From an afternoon spent inspiring students at schools across Darwin, to hearing from some of the game’s finest ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, to seeing Lloyd Johnston become king of the kids among up-and-coming talents from Boroloola, the 2024 voyage to the NT won’t be soon forgotten on the Gold Coast.