Round One v Essendon – Saturday 26 March at 3.35pm
An opening round clash against the Bombers on Easter Saturday looms as a massive encounter for both sides, with Essendon under new coach John Worsfold and Gold Coast seeking to get season two under Rodney Eade off to a fast start. The SUNS narrowly defeated the Bombers last year in a thrilling encounter at Metricon Stadium.
Round Three v Carlton – Saturday 9 April at 7.25pm
For the first time since 2013, traditional Victorian heavyweight Carlton heads north to southern Queensland, this time under the guidance of first-year coach Brendon Bolton. When the two sides met last at Metricon Stadium, just under 20,000 people flocked to the ground.
Round Five v North Melbourne – Saturday 23 April at 4.35pm
Gold Coast has won their last three games against North Melbourne, with two of those victories coming at Metricon Stadium. Last year’s emphatic victory over the Kangaroos in Gary Ablett’s return game broke a run of seven losses and breathed life into the season at that point of the year.
Round 18 v Fremantle – Saturday 23 July at 2.10pm
Gold Coast will face Fremantle for the second time in 2016 when the Dockers travel to Metricon Stadium late in the year. The game will mark the first time Harley Bennell returns to his former home as a Fremantle footballer. In the 2015 edition at Metricon Stadium, an undermanned SUNS outfit battled gallantly against the ladder-leading Dockers, pushing them all the way to the final siren before going down by under two goals.
Round 23 v Port Adelaide – TBC
Charlie Dixon will return to Metricon Stadium for the first time since crossing to Port Adelaide at the end of the 2015 season. It will be the fifth consecutive season Ken Hinkley’s team make the trip to Queensland to face Gold Coast, with the Power making the journey at a similar time last season.
