Overview

• Gold Coast trounced Essendon 23.15 (153) to 8.10 (58), a club-record 95-point margin built on a seven-goal opening term.
• Ben King kicked a career-best seven to reach a club-season record 69 goals, while captain Noah Anderson (34 disposals, three goals) and Matt Rowell (31, two) dominated.
• Daniel Rioli and Bailey Humphrey made timely returns from injury, with Jarrod Witts capping the night with a goal after the siren.
• The Suns finished with 15 wins to claim seventh, setting an elimination final at Optus Stadium against Fremantle on September 6, with match time still to be confirmed.
• Essendon slumped to a 13th consecutive defeat as Matt Guelfi (calf) and Todd Goldstein (concussion) went down, while Damien Hardwick weighs David Swallow’s selection and Brad Scott flags a significant off-season overhaul.