Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has criticised the Gold Coast Suns, calling out the club’s “undisciplined” behaviour both on and off the field during the 2026 season.
While the Suns have plummeted to 14th on the AFL ladder, they remain just one win away from breaking into the wildcard spot.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Mac Andrew. Getty
Their recent on-field struggles have been exacerbated by Damien Hardwick calling the team “pathetic” last weekend before the club’s CEO had to step in.
Days later, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Mac Andrew were in the headlines after footage circulated online showing the pair leaving a toilet together.
Both players strongly denied any misconduct – a stance the Suns have echoed.
Weighing in on the incident on Nine’s Today, Lloyd suggested fans can “make of it what you will,” but emphasised that the situation is characteristic of a club that has become the biggest disappointment of the 2026 season.
“The club (has) put out a statement saying they’ve spoken to the players, they believe their version of events, really. So, at this stage, it’s just two boys, two guys who have gone in and used the disabled toilets which they shouldn’t,” Lloyd said.
“Make of it what you will, but there’s no evidence of anything other than that.”
Despite the lack of evidence of further wrongdoing by the two Suns players, Lloyd was scathing in his overall assessment of the team’s current trajectory.
“Gold Coast are in free fall. They’ve lost seven in a row, they’ve been the biggest disappointment of the season. They can’t turn it around,” Lloyd explained.
“Undisciplined on the field, some will say undisciplined off the field as well. So, it’s been just a horror year for them.”
The Suns next play a home game against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.