Ready for anything: Suns’ prepare for the worst

The Gold Coast Suns are yet to get clarification on the potential impacts COVID-19 will have on their assistance package from the AFL but remain prepared for any changes.

THE Gold Coast Suns are yet to get clarification on the potential impacts COVID-19 will have on their assistance package from the AFL but remain prepared for any changes.

Gold Coast received an assistance package from the AFL at the end of 2019 that spanned three years, providing additional support in the form of draft picks, an expanded academy zone in Darwin, extended access to academy players and an increased rookie list of up to 10 players.

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The Suns secured Matthew Rowell at pick one as part of the concessions at last year’s draft and still have two more years of assistance as part of the agreement.

Gold Coast Suns AFL player Matthew Rowell. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

But Gold Coast football manager Jon Haines said nothing was guaranteed with the impact COVID-19 has had on the AFL.

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“We are really cognisant of the extent and significance of the issue COVID has caused the AFL and broader society,” Haines said.

“We are not in a mindset where we feel we need to be defensive around any concessions.

“Our mindset is around what does this new world look like? What opportunities does it offer and how can we work with the AFL to get a good outcome.

“Football departments and football programs in the future are going to look fundamentally different.

“It would be remise of us not to look at the opportunities and be open minded about what it may look like.

“We are looking to build this from the ground up again in terms of building a model for the future and what does a contemporary footy department look like?

“Also, the special needs clubs in Queensland and NSW need in order to be able to maintain some competitive balance and also maintain the AFL’s focus on growing the game up here.

“We need to make sure we don’t lose sight to that in whatever the new model is.”