Damien Hardwick receiving high praise for first pre-season at Gold Coast

Damien Hardwick might not have coached a game for the Gold Coast yet, but his players are amazed at the job he’s doing. Can he break their finals drought? Have your say.

Gold Coast defender Sean Lemmens believes the club has a clear direction for the future after triple-premiership coach Damien Hardwick attempts to lead the embattled Suns to its first finals appearance.

The former Tigers leader, who took the club to three premierships during his 14-season tenure, is deep in his first pre-season with the Suns after he stepped away from Richmond during the 2023 season.

Lemmens said the impact of Hardwick’s coaching was clear as the Suns ramp up preparations for their Opening Round clash against his old Tigers side.

“It’s a real fresh start, Dimma has been amazing, he’s a super clear coach on what he wants around his structure, set ups, game plan,” he said.

“So we’re grasping that well as a team and we’re moving forward really well.

Damien Hardwick is getting to work on the Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

“Dimma is awesome at making us understand our individual roles and that sort of thing.

“Mine won’t change a whole lot, I’ll stay super competitive as I try to be and obviously try to give off some rebound when the time’s right.

“It’s pretty refreshed and we’re firing in the heat nice and early.”

The Suns finished 15th on the ladder last year under Stuart Dew, who was sacked mid-season and replaced by interim coach Stephen King to finish the campaign, but with Hardwick now leading the way, expectations are high for Gold Coast.

Armed with a bounty of top-line academy draft picks like key forward Jed Walter, ruck Ethan Read and midfielder Jake Rogers, as well as a midfield core including Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell, there is plenty for Hardwick to work with in the Suns’ quest for their first finals appearance in club history.

Hardwick will be Gold Coast’s fourth head coach, following Guy McKenna, Rodney Eade and Dew, with none holding a winning record of more than 30 per cent.

There is high expectations for what Hardwick can do as head coach at the Suns. Picture: Getty Images

Interim coaches Dean Solomon, who coached three games in 2017 for zero wins, and King, who led the Suns to two wins in seven games, also fell under the 30 per cent threshold.

Assistant coach Josh Drummond said the goal of the club, and its coaching panel, was clear.

“We all know what we’re here to do, we want to make the Gold Coast Suns a formidable club in this competition and that’s at AFL level,” he said.

“We’re a young club trying to learn how to win.

“There’s a lot of guys putting their hand up, I think having a new coach doesn’t hurt that in terms of a fresh set of eyes, a clean slate, whatever happened in the past, happened in the past.

“You can see why he (Hardwick) has had the success he has, the way he drives the program.

“He challenges me to come in and be better every day, which is a great environment to be in.

“The enthusiasm he brings has definitely been infectious.”