Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew on potential Round 1 debut for draftee, rule changes and mental health

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has weighed into a host of topics in the lead up to Round 1, including the chances of top draft pick Jack Lukosius making his debut, his thoughts on the restrictions of the runner and the mental health debate gripping the AFL.

GOLD Coast’s prized top draft pick Jack Lukosius looks all but certain to make his AFL debut in Round 1 of the premiership season.

The squad for the Suns first premiership game of the season against St Kilda in Melbourne this Sunday won’t be named until Thursday but coach Stuart Dew has indicated they highly touted key position player, taken with pick 2 of last year’s national draft, will get the nod.

“He will be a big chance,” Dew said.

“He has played two JLT games and that game against Brisbane. He has showed a fair bit so he is certainly in the mix.”

Jack Lukosius of the Suns takes a break during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Gold Coast Suns at Oakes Oval on March 10, 2019 in Lismore, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Dew said the 18-year-old South Australian had made a big impression since arriving in Queensland.

“His maturity and his ability to cope with different situations (has impressed),” Dew said.

“He is a good decision maker, he used the ball really well and he is flexible. We have been playing him forward but he can go down back as well.”

Dew said if selected, Lukosius would likely make his debut at forward.

“He would feel comfortable there. The good thing about Jack is his temperament. If we were to throw him down back he would handle that fine.”

Lukosius could be joined in the Round 1 team by recruits George Horlin-Smith and Jordan Murdoch who will be available for selection after recovering from injury.

Former Richmond player Corey Ellis is likely to make his return from groin surgery through the NEAFL.

Meanwhile, Dew has said Gold Coast have no problem with the AFL’s decision to restrict runners access to the field to strictly after goals.

Coaches including Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson have been vocal about wanting more clarity around the rule change while others in the industry believe it will affect young teams like Gold Coast the most if they cannot get messages to them at will.

Suns head coach Stuart Dew speaks to his team during a quarter time break during the round 23 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Gold Coast Suns at GMHBA Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media/Getty Images)

But Dew said the Suns were comfortable with the changes.

“We have got all the clarity we need,” Dew said.

“We are well aware of the rules and we have been preparing for that. We are ready. It’s our job to educate the players better. I don’t think it’s a hindrance at all.”

The issue of mental illness has been at the centre of debate in the AFL in recent weeks, with Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan stood down for Round 1 while battling clinical anxiety.

Others have declared players have played the mental illness card to avoid drug tests.

Dew looks after one of the youngest lists in the AFL and said the club was acutely aware of providing the support needed for its players.

“We have really good support systems,” Dew said.

“Our personal excellence department has really grown. In the next couple of months we will have seven people in that area. Previously there has been one or two.

“We are certainly aware of the challenges young men and women face in the game today and the pressures.

“There is the education piece, so what they are doing off the field, the leadership capability part.

“It’s less about doing things for them, less about cooking meals and driving them around. We want to flip that on it’s head.

“We want to grow good, strong young men and women to be capable. Coming into the environment at 18, when they leave we want to make sure they are ready for the real world because it’s a bit of a bubble.”