As a player Stewart Dew was always successful; he played for two different clubs and won premierships for both teams.
He played for the Port Adelaide Power in their Premiership in 2004 and for the Hawthorn Hawks when they won a Premiership in 2008. Dew’s trademark was the distance that he could kick the ball – at least fifty metres.
He had one of the best apprenticeships of all as an assistant Coach at the Sydney Swans. The Swans will clearly miss him this season.
The Gold Coast Suns needed a coach who was going to instill a winning culture. They needed to fill the void left by the departure of Gary Ablett, as they were struggling for survival prior to the appointment of Dew.
He may have only been a senior coach for two rounds, but the Suns are playing a fantastic attacking brand of football.
The Suns players have clearly been impacted by the game plan that has been implemented by Dew and they appear to be playing with freedom.
Tom J Lynch is indicative of the transformation that Dew has brought about and Lynch is playing with a confidence in his ability, but not arrogance.
He is leading from the front and playing some outstanding football. Jarryd Lyons has been a revelation in the midfield and is playing the best football of his career.
Nick Holman is clearly grabbing his second chance with both hands, after being delisted by the Carlton Blues. Jarrod Witts will be haunting Collingwood Magpies fans with his performance in the first two rounds.
The Suns have had no passengers in their starting twenty two players. Every player who has been selected in the team has played their role adequately.
The Suns have a tough draw with plenty of travelling in the first half of the AFL Season. For people who may think that the first two wins for the Suns this season was a fluke or a bit of luck they are barking up the wrong tree.
The Suns have gone from being a basket case to being Premiership contenders.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
I never knew that, thanks for pointing that out.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Thanks for that.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Well said, at least we know that they will be competitive this Season.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I know we're generally advised to use the full names in match reports/match previews and titles, but not generally in articles. I guess Doran's decided to use them of his own accord.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
....and the Carlton Blues and Collingwood Magpies.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
The Hawthorn Hawks??
Seventeener
Guest
As a Bears/Lions/Suns convert, I got a great deal of satisfaction screaming out "LYNCHY" about 20 times at Etihad on Saturday. If you want the same satisfaction you'll have to join the Dew Train.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I wonder whether Tom Lynch would like to move a bit more North????
Seventeener
Guest
Right from the beginning this article rubs me the wrong way. Stuart Dew, you really should get his name right, was never a player who was always successful. He struggled a lot in the SANFL to even get into Port's 22 sometimes having only come onto Port's list at their inception having been overlooked in the Draft. He played 42 games for Central District trying to crack into Port's AFL side. Dew retired at 26 years of age because he couldn't handle the rigours of AFL, but he was famously coaxed out of retirement by Al Clarkson, and even then he only managed 26 out of a possible 47 games. His success came from being at the right clubs at the right time and being a player who made the most of his middling talents through determination and work ethic. Much as I like articles that recognise that the Suns are a genuine team this season, you really need to put more research into what you write about. Stuart Dew as a player was probably the equivalent of Nick Holman.
Aligee
Guest
Should be coaching Collingwood this year on a three year deal
Tim
Guest
Jaryd Lyons a revelation. When he played for Adelaide after Dangerfield left he had equivalent statistics but not the reputation. Good luck to him.
PeteB
Guest
The Suns have started well in a few previous seasons only to have things fall apart by around mid-May. And they’ve only played north and Carlton. Let’s wait and see.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Nice to read an article from Doran that isn't about frankensteining two teams together
User
Roar Rookie
Nice to read a article with a exuberant tone regarding gcs.
Qlder
Guest
Whoa there! The Suns have beaten North and Carlton, two teams who, to be honest, most expected to finish in the bottom four along with the Suns. As mentioned above, it’s a long season, with no games at home on the Coast until round 11. It will be interesting to see how they’re going after 3 months of constant travel, and after they meet some of ‘top’ teams. Mind you, it has been fun so far.
Simoc
Guest
I don't know how good they are yet except against two ordinary teams (which they have always previously been) but the footy skills are there under pressure and holding up. They may not be the easybeats this season that they have always been. It will be good if they can contest against the likes of Geelong, GWS, Adelaide.
Paul D
Roar Guru
2 wins and they're premiership contenders - wow. People forget it's a long season. I remember not all that long ago North were sitting top of the ladder after a 10-0 start. It's important to remember this in context. The Suns have been absolutely deplorable the last few years - I would go so far as to say at times they have not conducted themselves like professional footballers paid to play the game to the utmost of their ability - particularly that 135-20 loss to the Port Power that happened only 7 months ago to close the 2017 season. Dew coming in and Ablett going has the side excited about new possibilities, but the more they win the more opposition sides will begin to take them seriously, and they won't be able to bank on getting the ascendancy on sides who perhaps came into the game at 80% intensity. As others said the Suns have been paying the price for years being a fledgling team in an area where there's little passionate interest in the elite AFL. Poor facilities poor squads poor coaches. Personally I'd have waited until the Suns complete their upcoming week's sojourn in Perth, bookended by 2 away games against the Dockers and the Weagles. Let's see how they're going after those.
The Original Buzz
Guest
Have to agree about Ablett leaving being a positive for the Suns it gives the rest of them the chance to shine. I had little doubt that Dew would be the coach that could turn them around, but like many others, I didn't expect it to be so sudden and with that great an impact. As for their opposition, that was just plain awful and really hard to watch. Back to the drawing board for the Blues.
George
Guest
Only the most optimistic Suns fan would have them this year in top 8 (unless everything and I mean everything goes right for them) not mentioning top 4. But I had to laugh when reading this year preseason reviews by Elliot and Rose. Absolutely no homework done by them, instead the usual stereotypes based on previous years. I think AFL could not start a new team in a worse possible way. But a lot of things changed in the last 2 - 3 years and especially the last year. Completely revamped admin, new coach, new and boosted medical/performance team. Finally, this was first preseason in proper facilities - all young players gained extra 5-7kg. In my opinion, still 1 more year to get into young players like Bowes, Fiorini, Brodie, Scrimshaw, Ainsworth, Macpherson, Ah Chee for Suns to challenge for finals. If Lynch leaves yes it will set them back but not disaster as some people claim as Wright/Day would be more than decent fall back plus handsome compensation. I had to chuckle when Elliot mentioned in this round preview that Blues are 2 years ahead of Suns in rebuild. Suns has talent all over the place, ready to blossom in Dew's new system. 15 1st round picks, some experienced role model players, players entering their prime, players 22-23 years old who were in the system 4-5 years and then young players 1-2 years in the system. Compare bottom 5 players of Blues and Suns in yesterday's game - not even close. Yes, Blues have injuries but so Suns. Contrary to Blues, North and Lions Suns actually do have a depth. Suns were missing 4 best 22 and still players like Brodie, Barlow, Leslie, Scrimshaw couldn't get the game. Not mentioning role players like Schoenfiled, Willis, Lonergan, Spencer. Easily 30 and up to 35 players could play in best 22 with no issues. By the way Ablett leaving was blessing. He could be missing piece for Cats but regarding Suns the team can finally unite and move on. And yes, Dew looks great so far and his personal approach does wonders for players like Hall. Let's see what we have to say at the end of season. I am cautiously optimistic.
Liam
Guest
The interesting thing for me isn't their attack, but their defense. 93 tackles, on a day they had more of the ball. Their zones were set up like lightning; there was a play, about 70m out from Carlton's goal, that Curnow took a mark, and in the time it took him to run back and look for an option, there was already a 16 man Sun zone flat footed, staring right at him, as if they'd been there for ages. If they can sustain their early season form, not just a smokey for the 8 but for top 4.