Statistically speaking, Alex Sexton owns the most dominant single-game goal-kicking performance in SUNS history. It was Round 20 2018 when he kicked five of seven SUNS goals on an otherwise dirty day at the MCG.

The SUNS were beaten 7-5 (47) to 21-17 (143) on a miserable Sunday afternoon memorable only for Sexton’s stand-out performance in his 94^th game.

After Nick Holman kicked their first goal in the first quarter, Sexton kicked their second, third and fourth goal in the second quarter and their fifth goal in the third quarter.

He made it five in a row 35sec after three-quarter time before Michael Rischitelli broke the Sexton stranglehold deep in time-on in the last term.

So, with 71.4% of the SUNS goals, the now veteran forward turned half back has set a benchmark that will take some beating.

Only once has another SUNS player kicked more than 50% of the team’s goals – that was Tom Lynch in Round 2 2018 when he kicked eight of 15 (53.3%).

Lynch also kicked seven of 17 (41.2%) in Round 4 2017, with fourth spot on this list shared by Joel Jeffrey and ex-SUN Callum AhChee, who kicked five of 13 (38.5%) in 2022 and 2017 respectively.

The Sexton solo performance is an individual highlight in a Round 20 history that has delivered a 4-8 win/loss record overall which includes seven losses in a row from 2014-21 – four by 80 points or more after the first Round 20 game in 2011 delivered a 150-point hiding that still sits at the top of the list – and four memorable wins.

As the goldcoastfc.com.au flashback series continues, memorable moments in Round 20 include:

2012 – First Win v GWS

After the Giants won the first meeting of the two expansion clubs in Round 7 2012 the SUNS squared the ledger at People First Stadium in Round 21.

With Jackson Allen making his debut, the SUNS led by 13 points at halftime and won 16-13 (109) to 12-7 (79). Brandon Matera picked up three Brownlow Medal votes for 22 possessions and two goals, while Aaron Hall’s 15 possessions and three goals earned him one vote.

2013 – A Double Demon Defeat

For the first time in SUNS history they beat an opposition side twice in the same year when they accounted or Melbourne by 13 points at People First Stadium in Round 20 2013.

Having thumped the Demons by 10 goals at the MCG in Round 7, they won 13-12 (90) to 10-17 (77) in what was Gary Ablett’s 250^th game, David Swallow’s 50^th an Danny Stanley’s 50^th for the SUNS.

Harley Bennell led the way with 27 possessions and a goal for three Brownlow votes, while Swallow had 28 possessions and a goal for one vote.

It was also a sad day for the club, with inaugural vice-captain Nathan Bock playing his 27^th and last game in red and yellow. The former Adelaide defender had played 21 SUNS games in 2011 but only four in 2012 – Round 3-4-5-6 – before a badly broken leg.

He waited 15 months to play again in Round 19 2013, but a recurrence of his leg problems in Round 20 meant his AFL career finished at 140 games.

2022 – A Rosas Match-Winner

Malcolm Rosas was the first player signed by the SUNS from the Darwin Academy, joining the club via the rookie draft in November 2019. He’d played four games in 2021, but was pretty much a regular from Round 4 in 2022, and a hero in Round 20 that year.

Returning from a two-week hamstring layoff, he faced West Coast in a real rollercoaster ride at People First Stadium as Mac Andrew made his AFL debut.

The SUNS led by 37 points in the second quarter before the Eagles kicked the next four goals to cut it to 12 points. The SUNS kicked four of the next five and led by 25 points at three-quarter time, but visitors weren’t done yet.

They piled on four majors in seven minutes to start the last quarter, and when Jack Redden added a fifth 20 minutes in it was back to two points.

Mabior Chol kicked a steadier for the SUNS, but a Jake Waterman reply gave West Coast a sniff. It was three points to the home side with two minutes to play.

The Eagles had the momentum but Rosas snuffed that out when, having kicked a 35m goal on the run at centre half forward in the second quarter, received a neat Touk Miller handpass and did the same thing from the same spot to lock it away.

Chol kicked five goals in his 50^th game as the SUNS won 16-11 (107) to 16-8 (104), with Miller’s 31 possessions, 10 tackles and 15 clearances earning him three Brownlow Medal votes as the SUNS crashed the Eagles milestone party of Andrew Gaff (250 games), coach Adam Simpson (200 games) and Tim Kelly (100 games).

2023 – The Sweetest of Sweet Memories

If you ask SUNS fans their favorite memory of 2023 the odds are that the majority will come up with the Round 20 win over the Brisbane Lions at People First Stadium.

The Lions sat equal second on the ladder with a 13-5 record, with the SUNS 12^th at 8-10, but the home side led from the 12-minute mark of the second quarter on their way to a 41-point upset.

Three goals late in the second term sent them to the long break three points up before they piled on10-3 to 3-7 in the second half to win 15-6 (96) to 7-13 (55). It was the SUNS’ third-biggest win all-time against the Lions, and their first since 2018 after nine losses on the trot, and came despite a 10-28 free kick count.

It was a perfect celebration for Sam Collins’ 100^th AFL game and confidence-booster for caretaker coach Steven King, who was in charge for the third time.

Touk Miller (29 possessions) headed the Brownlow votes from Ben King (five goals) and Matt Rowell (19 possessions, 13 tackles, seven clearances and one goal).