Gold Coast end of season review: How Andrew Hamilton would fix the Suns
THE Suns are on the nose. They play without passion and lack physical or mental resilience. But could trading away Gary Ablett actually help the club?
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This might be the toughest job in football.
Where do you even start when you have to fix the Gold Coast Suns?
They don’t have a coach, are losing fans and their list isn’t as good as outsiders think.
Andrew Hamilton takes an in-depth look at the club’s 2017 disaster and looks forward to the 2018 season.
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THE SEASON ROUND UP
An absolute stinker on every count. It looked for large portions of the season the Suns weren’t interested in being AFL footballers. And that has led to an alarming decline in interest from the fans also. It is not accurate to say the game lacks supporters on the Coast because grassroots footy is thriving. It is the Suns that are on the nose. They play without passion and lack physical or mental resilience. Their skills are shoddy, they can’t defend and no one is improving. Even their most important players Tom Lynch and Steven May plateaued in their first year as co-captains. Seven years into their existence they are back at square one.
THE PROBLEM
Once again there has been a season of major change. The Suns are onto their third CEO and about to appoint their third coach in just their seventh season in the AFL. Lack of stability is a problem but it is unavoidable until you get the right people in the right jobs. Surely more change is coming also. Mark Evans has to nail the selection of the next coach or he won’t last either. When the AFL controls the purse strings all they care about is the bottom line. If Evans can’t reverse the club’s on-field fortunes and in turn their balance sheet, the old loyalties from his days as an AFL executive will be stretched.
THE SOLUTION
Phone renowned Gold Coast orthopedic surgeon Dr Matthew Scott-Young and ask him to insert a backbone into the organisation. The Suns’ biggest problem is the players. The list isn’t as good as people think, although there is enough talent to make the finals. But talent means nothing when there is no ticker. The Suns are weak. They should forget about throwing everything into scraping into the eight next year to salvage some pride and instead start afresh and try to create a list and culture that can win a flag. That means getting rid of the front runners that hoist the white flag week after week.
THE TARGET
Tom Lynch. Before they attempt to woo any stars North they must lock away Lynch. Right at the moment you would have to question the motives of any star players for heading to the Coast. No one is coming here thinking they are getting closer to a flag. If it is only money they aren’t what this club needs right now. They need players who would die, and preferably kill also, for the club. That said, increasing the depth around the midfield is essential. They have the second pick in the draft and that must be spent on the best midfielder available.
THE DREAM
1) Run the tramline to Metricon Stadium. The struggles to get to the ground is killing the crowds, especially when the side is battling.
2) Trade out Gary Ablett. Gaz can leave knowing he has been this club’s best ever player but his time here has run its course. Mark Evans got frustrated answering Ablett questions five months into the job, how does he reckon the rest of the club feel after seven years. Ablett bought star power but right now Gold Coasters would be happy with a team they can be proud of. That means becoming harder to play against. If they have to get ugly for a year or two and learn to defend so become more competitive, so be it.
BUCKY SAYS
“The Suns did well to get Pearce Hanley from the Lions last year — could they do the same again this year with Tom Rockliff?”
PREDICTION
16th. It is hard to say when the new coach’s identity is unknown but it is difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.
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