The Gold Coast Suns have had yet another disappointing year however members and supporters in Queensland should remain confident that the Suns will remain – and build to become an important part of the AFL.
Although people may say the Suns should fold, the Suns are here for the long haul and will survive this rough patch in their history.
Stewart Dew’s first season as coach was always going to be tough. After great form in pre season games and victories in the first couple of matches of the 2018 season, things looked positive on the Gold Coast for the Suns.
What followed was a long haul of trips around the country and the globe to Perth (twice), Ballarat, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston and China to face Port Adelaide before returning to the Gold Coast for their first real home game in Round 11 against Geelong.
By that mark of the season, fatigue kicked in along with another injury crisis. Then there was the ongoing speculation regarding former skipper, Tom Lynch and the constant media backlash. This season was always going to be hard considering the club was forced out of their home ground and facilities for about a few months for the Commonwealth Games.
People are warrant to their opinions however there is sunshine ahead on the Gold Coast. The good crop of younger players love the club and are passionate about seeing the club succeed. The likes of Touk Miller, Jack Bowes, Braydan Crossley, and Ben Ainsworth are all young rising stars who bleed Red, Gold, and Blue.
Another good batch of solid players look set to again come to the Sunshine State this current draft with the Suns looking set for at least two first rounders, possibly two of the first three picks in the AFL National Draft.
The Gold Coast Suns’ performance against Sydney in Round 18 highlighted the impact the young side can make once they can give four quarters worth of intensity, effort and skill.
Towards the back half of the season the young Suns side showed resilience and determination along with solid effort to perform to the best that they possibly could – but ultimately did finish 17th on the ladder for the second straight year.
The Suns did get it wrong at the start but are doing all the right things now to succeed. It will take a few years yet but the future is bright for both Queensland clubs.
John Simes Collins
Guest
Certainly particularly after mature draft picks our best 22 for 2019 is looking very good. Our young retained players are maturing and Simon Lloyd will have to eat HUMBLE PIE as the GC SUNS surprise teams in 2019. Great to be a Foundation Suns fan, who supported the Lions after moving to Gold Coast
TWLS
Guest
There is another angle to the Suns story which may or may not be acceptable to most on here. Queensland to most AFL fans surprise has the highest participation of Women/Girls bar Victoria. Both States have about 100,00 involved with Victoria just shading the Sunlanders. Let that fact sink in for a moment. Recent developments up there say very loudly that the AFLW Brisbane Lions alone cannot cater for the growing numbers and it is crucial that proper pathways are in place. This is where the Suns step in with their AFLW team in 2020. That is another reason why AFL House will not now let the Suns falter. They are crucial now to the Womens game up there. We know AFL Queensland and the many Volunteers up there have worked very hard to establish the Womens game to their credit. Coming from a heartland State we think it is quite extraordinary what has happened up there.
asd
Guest
They will come good if the AFL helps them .Leaving the China deal is a mistake
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It's easy to forget that the Suns' did not play a game at home until round 12, or thereabouts. They managed an average home attendance of some 13,500, a bit under their long run average of 14,243. Can only go up from here.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Wow is that true Papa Joe? Trouble is if they'd got that whole eight how many would still be there? My guess, 1-2.
mds1970
Roar Guru
2018 was always going to be a write-off. The situation was not of their making, but the Commonwealth Games and not having a home game until the season was half over meant they were always going to be up against it. One thing they've got right is to get out of China. Being on the Gold Coast and re-connecting with the local community is far more important for their future than being Port's patsy in China.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
The coach's name is Stuart, not Stewart.
Papa Joe
Roar Rookie
Let's hope the list manager gets things right this draft/trade period. In the 2010 draft when GC had 8 of the first 13 picks, they managed to miss Andrew Gaff, Dyson Heppell, Luke Parker, Jeremy Howe, Isaac Smith, Jack Darling and Jared Polec. Three or four of them would be useful now.