Stuart Dew returns to AFL ranks in part-time role at Brisbane Lions
Just under a year after his sacking from the Gold Coast Suns, Stuart Dew has made his AFL return, this time helping the Suns’ biggest rival.
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Former Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has returned to the AFL ranks in a part-time role at the Brisbane Lions a little under 12 months after he was sacked by the Suns.
It is understood the 44-year-old will serve in a skills development and experiential capacity at the Lions, who have brought him on board in a short-term, once-a-week role.
Dew had his six-year tenure prematurely ended last season when the Suns cut ties with their longest serving coach in July.
A month later Damien Hardwick was announced as his replacement on a six-year deal.
Dew’s appointment to the Suns’ Queensland rivals comes as the Lions face an uphill battle to make finals after a 4-6-1 start to the season.
They travel to Melbourne to play the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
There is no indication as yet whether Dew’s temporary role will lead to something permanent.
Both parties would prefer to keep the current arrangement low-key.
Dew is a two-time premiership player with Port Adelaide (2004) and Hawthorn (2008) and was previously an assistant coach under Paul Roos and later John Longmire at Sydney.
He was part of the Swans’ 2012 premiership-winning coaching panel and remained at the club until the end of 2017, when he was signed by the Suns to be their next senior coach.
Dew oversaw 121 games as Suns coach between 2018 and 2023 and coached the club to its equal-best finish of 12th in 2022.
He was both the club’s longest-serving and most winningest coach.
Speaking at the Suns’ FightMND event at Carrara on Tuesday, Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans welcomed the news of Dew’s return to footy at Brisbane.
“It’s fantastic. He’s a great footy person, great footy brain, it’s great to see him back and involved and we wish him all the best.”
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