The Damien Hardwick era at Gold Coast begins on Saturday, with the Suns hosting Richmond — the club Hardwick famously led to three premierships in four seasons.

The Suns late last season parted ways with Stuart Dew then made a bold move for Hardwick, who signed a long-term deal with coach Gold Coast.

It came after Hardwick sensationally left the Tigers mid-season citing burnout, despite being contracted to Richmond until the end of 2024 season.

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MATCH CENTRE: Gold Coast Suns v Richmond stats and more

Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt, who played under Hardwick for most of his decorated career, said Hardwick would inevitably feel nervous ahead of the clash.

“‘Dimma’ used to speak about the ‘Demon of Expectation’ – that was the level of anxiety coming into a Grand Final or being a favourite coming into any game. And I think that’ll be sitting right on his shoulder at the moment,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“There’s an emotional element for him and I could see that on Monday night when he was on-air. He bloody cares about that group and that football club.”

This match gets underway at 4.20pm AEDT from People First Stadium.

Watch it live on Fox Footy (via Foxtel Channel 504 or stream on Kayo Sports from 3.30pm (AEDT).

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER UPDATES

The Tigers drew first blood, with Shai Bolton streaming into attack and kicking truly to get the visitors off to the ideal start.

It didn’t take long for Ben King to open his goalkicking account for 2024 after converting a set shot. The Suns had several more chances in front of goal early in the game but couldn’t capitalise.

Malcolm Rosas finally put one through with a neat banana kick before King followed with his second in a promising start for Damien Hardwick’s side.

Gold Coast really got going from that put through its “demolition” in the midfield — as put by Lions champ Jonathan Brown on Fox Footy — as Jack Lukosius kicked the next two goals

“The new coach has got to sort this out, he’d be looking at the midfield coach going: ‘What’s going on? Sort these guys out. This is where the experienced part of our team is’,” Brown added.

The Suns led 5.4 (34) to 1.0 (6) at quarter-time.

Nick Holman kicked the opening goal of the second term, with ex-Demons skipper Garry Lyon calling it a “dream start” on Fox Footy.

Matt Rowell was central to the Suns onslaught — labelled an “animal” and praised for being “absolutely ferocious” by Lyon — with the Suns out to an early 42-point lead.

King added another to make it eight-straight Gold Coast goals and a near 50-point advantage, with Hardwick’s side “dominating” his old one “all over the ground”, according to Lyon.

It made for ugly and a tough introduction to coaching tor Adem Yze, watching on helpless with his side discombobulated.

“What a challenge to that man for that man sitting in the hot seat for the first time,” Lyon said of Yze. “Out of the middle it is a tsunami.”

Rosas kicked his second goal for the day — 11 in a row for the Suns in an utter domination.

“In his wildest dreams, Damien Hardwick could not have expected this on his first day,” Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson said.

Brown added; “It’s a fairytale start … jeez, they look like premiership favourites at the moment! Of course, they’re not going to be.”

In a rare highlight for the Tigers, Seth Campbell kicked his first goal and was mobbed by teammates.

Gold Coast led 11.8 (74) to 2.1 (13) — which was the Suns’ biggest half-time lead in club history.

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