As soon as Stuart Dew walked through the Gold Coast Suns’ door in October 2017, he started evaluating the football club as a whole.
Now nearing halfway through the 2019 AFL season, it looks as though his hard work is starting to pay dividends.
With a total overhaul of the football department – including replacing the inaugural head of football Marcus Ashcroft and list manager Scott Clayton – the Suns finally seem to be bucking the trend of players leaving the club to return back to their home states.
This is seen through the recent long-term contract extensions given to both of their co-captains, David Swallow and Jarrod Witts, as well as other highly regarded players including Touk Miller, Rory Thompson and Alex Sexton.
AFL.com.au have reported that young gun Jack Bowes has also signed a new multi-year deal that spans until the end of 2024.
Dew must be credited with this turnaround regarding player retention. In the 2018 off-season, Dew along with new footy boss Jon Haines and list manager Craig Cameron went after some high-end talent coupled with several mature-age recruits to bolster their 2019 list.
It now seems that players have bought into the message Dew is selling: team-first, defence-first footy. This is showing on and off the field.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
On the field this season, disregarding their win-loss record, the Suns have played a far more competitive brand of football than in 2018. They have been right in the game for eight out of their ten games so far.
Last year by the end of Round 10, the Suns had lost five games by over 40 points, in contrast to this year when they have limited that to only two games.
This speaks volumes to Dew’s role as coach, as he is cultivating better performances on the field, while he and senior Suns players are also building a strong culture off the field.
Dew and his football department – along with CEO Mark Evans and chairman Tony Cochrane – must be recognised as the key figures at the Suns who are building an environment where these players feel comfortable committing to the club long-term through multi-year deals.
The Suns have not, however, secured the important signatures of star midfielder Jack Martin, key-forward Peter Wright, and swing man Sam Day.
If they can get pen to paper for all three of those players, that would be a big win for club. Those three players – coupled with the other key signings that the Suns have already made – would mean that the Gold Coast have secured a great deal of young and emerging talent.
This new and improved culture has had rave reviews from all of the clubs’ new recruits who have all settled in nicely to the Gold Coast lifestyle. It feels different this year on the Gold Coast, it feels like there is a change – a big step forward.
Sam Woodfield
Roar Rookie
Yeah I tend to agree with you on most of that!
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Agreed, strong performances on the field have their foundations in the organisation's culture. If you want an example of a team with great talent that can not put together good performances think Adelaide and the litany of off-field problems they have achieved over the last few years. If you wanted examples of teams the perform well over a number of seasons or above their apparent talent, with teams great cultures. Think Geelong, Richmond, West Coast, Collingwood, I don't know much about St Kilda but they seem to be putting it together. I don't really know much about North but always felt they performed above they list.
Sam Woodfield
Roar Rookie
Yeah it's great to learn about the club from the unprecedented access they have been providing
Grints
Roar Rookie
One of the many reasons your club has always had a high retention rate and isnt scared to draft kids no matter where their from.
Sam Woodfield
Roar Rookie
You summed that up really nicely George, I agree Mark Evans played a major role as he was really the one who appointed Dew.
User
Roar Rookie
Fix off field and players will still, footy history is full of examples of this theory.
George13
Guest
Suns turn for better started when Evans was appointed as CEO two years ago. This year set up is how Suns should be established 8 years ago. It a complete overhaul off field with new facilities, new coaches, footy dept together new recruitment, development and performance teams, additional resources for academy and new stadium deal. Suns have a terrific young core of leaders (Bowes, Fiorini, Miller, Macpherson, Ainworth) who bought into Dew's philosophy and together with Witts and Swallow are driving the club. According to footy manager John Haines, Bowes and Ainsworth approached the club recently to extend their contracts. Expect Bowes, Ainsworh and also Wright and Fiorini extension announcements soon. Day has already declared he wants to stay but he actually struggles to make best 22 after his injuries. Brodie also struggles to get games and could move on. The only question is Martin. He is very close to Harbrow who almost retired the last year. Now Harbrow wants to play as long as possible and Martin seems very happy and getting more involved than in the past. I expect new draftees to extend contracts during the season too. If Suns continue to show enough promise for the remaining part of the season they may be even able to attract a quality player(s). 3-4 additional wins would certainly help. There is a lot of going on for Suns if they start winning. Perfect facilities, great environment. Not very player wants to be under constant scrutiny in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth. Even Hodge in his recent interview mentioned that he rediscovered his love for footy in Brisbane. Finally, this is what Rankine had to say about going home. "I haven't been homesick so far and I don't think I will be. I love it up here so much. I miss my family, but I'd rather they move up here than me go back if anything," he said. "It's a bit better up here, it's more laid back, you don't get hassled and it's a good place for football to thrive and become really big on the coast. I'm happy to help do that and get around to communities."
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'm also loving the clubs' newfound transparency; some of the features they've done with AFL media give a brilliant insight into the club and it's day-to-day operations. Genuinely wish the club all the best, they in no way deserve some of the damning vitriol they've been getting in the past few years.
Sam Woodfield
Roar Rookie
I'm sure they will John, Gold Coast seem to be about a year behind Brisbane in terms of development
Sam Woodfield
Roar Rookie
Yeah definitely Christo, he's completely transformed the club!
John Dohler
Roar Rookie
Stewart Dew is a miracle worker. What a legend. I hope the wins come! (This from a Lion's supporter).
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Getting Dew was such a great move for the club. Wishing the Suns every success!
Sam Woodfield
Roar Rookie
100% agree Frankie, the crowds will come!
Frankie321
Roar Rookie
Hypothesis; if the Suns had the same on field success as the GWS Giants, we’d have at least 50% more attendance than them. Let's test this hypothesis, and see what happens with attendance following some significant on field success, such as, hopefully, becoming a top ten team.