Melbourne Demons Shock Gold Coast Suns in Epic Easter Sunday Upset

Melbourne secured a significant 20-point victory over the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG on April 5, 2026, handing the Suns their first loss of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. The Demons finished the match with a score of 16.13 (109) to the Suns’ 14.5 (89).

The result marks a major upset in round four of the season, as the Gold Coast Suns had entered the match as a premiership fancy and the league’s top-of-the-table team. The Suns had established themselves as the most prolific and fastest team in the competition through the first month of the season before the defeat.

Match Progression and Key Performances

Melbourne trailed briefly at the end of the first quarter. However, the Demons responded with a six-goal surge during the second quarter that shifted the momentum in their favor from halftime onwards.

Veteran Jake Melksham was a standout performer for the Demons, contributing four goals. Melksham also recorded a mark that has been nominated for the Virgin Australian Mark of the Year.

The Pickett brothers provided further impact late in the game. Latrelle Pickett kicked a major after gathering a clever soccer from Kysaiah Pickett to help seal the result.

Coaching and Tactical Shift

The victory is a highlight for first-time senior coach Steven King, who took over the role late in the previous season. King has focused on implementing an entertaining, fast-paced brand of football that integrates high-end talent with physical intensity at the coal face.

According to reporting from afl.com.au, Melbourne’s strategy was to outpace the Suns, who had previously been the fastest team in the league. The Demons’ approach was to be quicker on the draw to overcome the Suns’ offensive power.

Standings and Implications

The win has immediate implications for the ladder, propelling Melbourne into the top six after the first month of the 2026 season. For Gold Coast, the loss ends an undefeated streak and serves as a setback for the top-of-the-table side.

The match was part of a wider round four schedule that included several other results:

• Brisbane defeated Collingwood 119-65 on April 2, 2026.
• North Melbourne defeated Carlton 96-86 on April 3, 2026.
• Fremantle defeated Adelaide 78-76 on April 3, 2026.
• Port Adelaide defeated Richmond 90-48 on April 4, 2026.
• Sydney defeated West Coast 163-35 on April 4, 2026.
• Bulldogs defeated Essendon 99-65 on April 5, 2026.

The round concludes with a match between Hawthorn and Geelong scheduled for April 6, 2026.