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<\/p>\nThe measured approach mirrors a broader shift at Gold Coast. After years spent chasing credibility, the Suns now find themselves confronting something unfamiliar: expectation.<\/p>\n
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The AFL captains get ready for the 2026 season. Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cExpectations are high externally and they\u2019re high internally,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new experience for me as captain and for our group to see that from the outside. We learned some really good lessons dealing with that pressure towards the end of last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gold Coast\u2019s breakthrough finals appearance has altered the club\u2019s internal standards, but Anderson said the focus had already moved beyond symbolic progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe expectation of the group is that we keep improving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to go longer at the end of the year, play deeper in finals and ultimately get to the biggest stage. But we understand there\u2019s still a lot in our game that needs improvement before we get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
While last season brought individual recognition for several Suns players, Anderson said personal accolades were irrelevant to what the group is chasing.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m not in the game for individual accolades and I don\u2019t think Matt Rowell is either,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be pushing for premierships as captain. That\u2019s what I want our group pushing for.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been pretty bad for a long time and I\u2019m pretty keen to have sustained success over a long period here.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Anderson, sustained success means building the type of consistency shown by clubs such as arch rivals Brisbane \u2014 sides that contend annually rather than briefly surge.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsistently competing at the top and having a clear identity and brand of football where teams know what they\u2019re going to get from us \u2014 that\u2019s the goal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Confidence inside the club has been strengthened by major list additions, including star recruit Christian Petracca, whose arrival Anderson said shifted belief levels within the playing group.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a cool experience bringing someone in of that level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an amazing player who\u2019s had an amazing career, and for him to want to join the club is huge for us.<\/p>\n
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Noah Anderson at the AFL\u2019s annual captains\u2019 day on Monday.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s helped the group believe we can really compete with the best. We showed signs of that last year beating some really good teams in big games.\u201d<\/p>\n
After several seasons spent narrowly missing finals, Anderson believes last year\u2019s breakthrough removed a psychological barrier that had lingered within the group.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt always felt like we were close \u2014 probably closer than people thought \u2014 which was extremely frustrating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year was important to actually get through that hurdle, play finals and experience it. Now the expectation is to build from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while optimism around the Suns continues to grow, Anderson said the club\u2019s immediate focus remains grounded \u2014 starting with ensuring players such as Ugle-Hagan feel supported enough to thrive again.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce that love for footy is there,\u201d he said, \u201ceverything else can follow.\u201d<\/p>\n