New Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew says overcoming travel will be a battle of the mind

WHERE critics see challenges, new Suns coach Stuart Dew only sees opportunity. Dew is at the helm of an AFL club for the first time and one of the most challenging opening halves of the season any have seen in the game.

Suns coach Stuart Dew discusses Gold Coast’s 2018 season draw. Photo: Jerad Williams

WHERE critics see challenges, new Suns coach Stuart Dew only sees opportunity.

Dew is at the helm of an AFL club for the first time and faces arguably the toughest opening half of the season in the modern game’s history.

The Suns will not play a single game at Metricon Stadium in the first 10 rounds of 2018, having to vacate their home for the Commonwealth Games. However, the coach remains unflappable.

In the wake of the AFL outlining it’s playing schedule, Dew said his players would have to win the battle of the mind before they even reach the field.

“It comes from the mindset of not only the playing group but the coaches and the whole club,” Dew said.

“And our mindset will be firmly on going to each game to win. It doesn’t matter where you play.”

Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew and Chairman Tony Cochrane. Photo: Jerad Williams

Gold Coast will take four home games on the road to Cairns, Perth, Brisbane and China due to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Their trip to China this year was one to forget with a 72-point loss to Port Adelaide.

Dew said his message to the players would be about opportunity for the international game while voicing his excitement of playing a “finals-like” game at the new Perth Stadium. He added that being on the road so much would help fast-track his bond with the players.

“It’s a good opportunity for me and new coaches in the group and the new players to make sure we spend a lot of time together,” Dew said.

“We re certainly looking at it from that point of view.

“There have been some changes and we want to make sure we can bed those down ... away trips are quite often good for that.

“It will fast track my ability to get to know the players and them to get to know me.”

Suns coach Stuart Dew is ready to embrace the challenge. Photo: Jerad Williams

So much travel could impact recovery time for a team that has endured so many injuries in recent years but Dew said that it simply wasn’t an excuse in 2018.

“We will have another pre-season under (high performance manager) Justin Cordy so we are really confident they will be further advanced physically,” Dew said.

“You only have to look to northern American sports where they do road trips that last for five to eight days playing multiple games.”

Originally published as New Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew says overcoming travel will be a battle of the mind