Collingwood’s VFL side have come away with a thrilling two-point win over the SUNS in the AFL curtain-raiser at People First Stadium.

It’s the second time the side have won in the sunshine state this season, with the first just three weeks ago against Southport.

The game started hotly contested, with neither side able to register a goal until the 15-minute mark of the first term, with Collingwood’s Liam Hude making the first strike.

It didn’t take long for the SUNS to come back, kicking the next two to finish the first term as six-point leaders.

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Quick hands from Johnson lands Howes his first

Collingwood talls Ash Johnson and Noah Howes combine for a goal in their Round 16 VFL clash with the SUNS.

Ed Allan, who has spent majority of 2025 in the AFL but returned to the VFL after falling ill last week, made his presence in the midfield known early with 12 disposals and four clearances at the first break.

Harry Mahoney started the second quarter with a goal of his own to level the scores, while Matt O’Brien kicked his own to bring Collingwood back in front.

The margin was again short lived, with the SUNS kicking the next three to bring the scores back to their favour to finish the half with a nine-point buffer.

After a flurry of Gold Coast goals bringing the SUNS their largest margin of the game, mid-season draftee Noah Howes – who already had a goal to his name in the second quarter – remarkably added another four goals to his name in the third term.

Ash Johnson, who was playing his first game in 336 days following a broken fibula sustained in a pre-season VFL practice match, kicked his first goal of 2025 on the three-quarter siren to give Collingwood a six-point lead at the final break.

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Ash Johnson's first VFL goal of 2025

Collingwood forward Ash Johnson kicks his first goal of 2025 after recovering from a broken fibula in the Magpies' Round 16 VFL clash against the SUNS.

Both teams went goal for goal in the final term, with Collingwood not allowing Gold Coast to break away cleanly for most of the term, until the SUNS kicked three consecutive goals to give them an 11-point buffer at the 23-minute mark.

Mahoney found the goals for his second, before brother Max Mahoney brought Collingwood back in front as the clock ticked 30 minutes. Second-year midfielder Harry DeMattia put the final nail in the coffin, kicking truly to secure the Pies with a two-point win over the SUNS.

MATCH CENTRE: GOLD COAST V COLLINGWOOD

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VFL Highlights: Gold Coast v Collingwood

See all the highlights from Collingwood's two-point VFL win over Gold Coast

The numbers:

Mid-season draftee Noah Howes had a VFL career-best and game-high five goals to go with his 14 disposals and five marks.

Ed Allan had a team-high 26 disposals, eight clearances and six inside 50s in his return game from illness, while Christian Algeri (16 disposals, eight score involvements, two goals) was also outstanding.

Charlie Dean (19 disposals, seven intercept possessions) and VFL captain Sam Glover (16 disposals, seven intercepts) were crucial in defence, while Oscar Steene (18 hit outs, five contested marks) also had his moments.

Collingwood now turn their attention to their clash against Geelong under lights on Saturday 18 July at Mission Whitten Oval.

GOLD COAST         2.4      6.9      9.15      14.16    (100)
COLLINGWOOD     1.4      5.6      11.9      15.12    (102)

GOALS:
GOLD COAST: Caleb Lewis (4), Alex Sexton (3), Jy Farrar (2), Jamison Shea, Ned Moyle, Leo Lombard, Max Hudson, Tom Berry
COLLINGWOOD: Noah Howes (5), Harry Mahoney (2), Liam Hude (2), Christian Algeri (2), Matt O’Brien, Max Mahoney, Ash Johnson, Harry DeMattia