Gold Coast AFLW coach David Lake reveals how he plans on building the Suns ahead of 2020

David Lake has been crowned the inaugural senior coach of the Suns AFLW team. Lake has revealed how he plans to use his experience with dual grand finalists Brisbane to mirror their success and how he will build the list at Gold Coast.

INAUGURAL Suns AFLW coach David Lake says he will endeavour to mirror the set up of former club Brisbane Lions as he begins building the team for 2020.

The man who coached the first ever Gold Coast women’s representative side in a curtain-closer against Brisbane at the Gabba in 2016 has been crowned the club’s inaugural AFLW senior coach.

Lake, 54, has spent the past two seasons working under Lions coach Craig Starcevich as an assistant, helping guide the set up of the club’s AFLW team that went to back-to-back grand finals in its first two seasons.

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Now at the helm of his own start-up, Lake said he was well positioned to build a successful foundation with the Suns who enter the top-tier competition next year.

“When I looked at the whole set up of the AFLW at the start, Craig was good enough to give me the opportunity and let me in,” Lake said.

“I’m very thankful for that because I wouldn’t be sitting here without what he allowed me to do what he invited me in for.

“His background, footy experience and work he has done in footy, I always felt he was the most experienced or best positioned coach in the competition because of his broadness of knowledge and the people he got in around him.

Inaugural Gold Coast Suns AFLW senior coach David Lake. Picture: Supplied.

“I love the way they were set up. We had a good, balanced environment where people could learn. To mirror something like that would be a good thing.”

Lake said Geelong, who entered the AFLW this season, had reminded him of the Lions build and it showed there was a template for success where mature-age recruits could add value.

“There are only a certain amount of youth and good quality youth to underpin the competition going forward,” Lake said.

“The girls in the middle are getting the opportunity, the ones who may have missed out in the initial phase.

“The mature-age girls who may have had something to work on have had time to address that and these new clubs coming in give them the opportunity to be found.

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“Geelong are a really good side … they look a lot like Brisbane did early. More clubs can set up on a similar formula and have similar success.”

Former Adelaide AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard was speculated to be among those in talks with the Suns about the position.

Gold Coast women’s football manager Fiona McLarty said Lake beat out a long list of candidates but wouldn’t reveal names of those beaten for the role.

McLarty said Lake’s experience working in football in Queensland played a bit part in the decision with the club looking to build a list predominantly full of talent in their own backyard.

David Lake Coaching Career:

2006 — 2011 Senior Coach Mt Gravatt AFC — including consecutive finals 06-11, Premiers 2007, AFLQ State League Coach of the Year 2007.

2009 — current National AFL Coach Papua New Guinea.

2010 — 2014 Coach of AFL South Pacific team in National U16’s/18’s carnivals.

2014 — 2015 Senior Coach Morningside AFC — Premiers 2014, AFLQ State League Coach of the Year 2014. Coach of AFLQ 2015 State team.

2016 — 2019 Brisbane Lions AFLW Midfield Coach.