Comment: New Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew should jettison wantaway star Gary Ablett

STUART Dew’s first job before he picks up the key to his new Gold Coast office should be packing Gary Ablett’s bag, DANNY RUSSELL writes.

Stuart Dew should tell Gary Ablett to pack his bags to start a new era at the Gold Coast Suns.

STUART Dew’s first job before he picks up the key to his new Gold Coast office should be packing Gary Ablett’s bag.

Once he has done that he should ring up Geelong and say you can have him.

If the Geelong offer up a draft pick north of 70 in return, that’s a bonus.

In short, Dew is a fresh-faced new coach who is seen as having inherited a basket case in the Gold Coast Suns.

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Stuart Dew should tell Gary Ablett to pack his bags to start a new era at the Gold Coast Suns.

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His drive to relocate from Sydney to Brisbane is like a trip up the highway to hell.

So, punting Ablett as soon as the trade negotiations open on Monday morning will put him firmly on the front foot.

Many will say it’s a free hit for Geelong. They will say that after paying Ablett a mini-fortune in recent years they get nothing in return.

But Ablett is 34 and injury prone. He doesn’t want to be on the Gold Coast and all the rumour and innuendo surrounding his future this year must have been an uncomfortable distraction.

Let Geelong have him.

And Dew can use this to his advantage.

New coach, new culture and new direction.

The quickest way down this path is to make a brave, bold statement about wanting Ablett gone. ASAP.

Ablett wants to leave, so don’t expect him to give the don’t argue to coach Stuart Dew.

Then mark a red circle on the calendar when the Suns play Geelong.

Following his appointment during the week, Dew avoided comment about Ablett.

“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to moving to the Gold Coast with my family and getting stuck into the challenge ahead,” he said.

Dew also said he was keen to keep co-captain Tom Lynch at the club.

He should start working on this straight away. But not before he has packed Ablett’s bags.

Originally published as Comment: New Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew should jettison wantaway star Gary Ablett