Gold Coast Suns insist it’s not rebuilding, overhaul of medical team to help retain star players

GOLD Coast is adamant it is not rebuilding, hopeful a total overhaul of its medical and conditioning team will help retain its star players.

Gold Coast Suns training at Metricon Stadium this afternoon — Jaeger O'Meara Photo: David Clark

GOLD Coast is adamant it is not rebuilding, hopeful a total overhaul of its medical and conditioning team will help retain its star players.

The Suns were on Wednesday forced to clarify footy boss Marcus Ashcroft’s presentation at last Thursday’s Gold Coast board meeting.

Multiple reports from Melbourne had Ashcroft and coach Rodney Eade requesting a three-year rebuild given the club’s on field struggles.

But Ashcroft said on Wednesday he alone presented to the board and gave a simple update on the club’s three-year football plan, which started last year.

David Swallow has been linked to a move to North Melbourne. Picture: David Clark

Speculation also surrounds the future of gun midfielder Jaeger O'Meara. Picture: David Clark

He said on Tuesday David Swallow’s trip to see North Melbourne fitness staffer Steve Saunders was “massively” overblown, with the midfielder a required and contracted player.

The Suns believe they will get eight first-22 players back into the side in the first fortnight and say they have enough talent on their list.

“We have never spoken the word rebuild,’’ Ashcroft said.

“We had a three-year plan approved last year where we had 11 off-field footy changes and the board meeting was nothing out of the ordinary. It was me presenting on how we are going with footy and that was it.

“We have got a lot of good talent, we just need to give them a chance to play.

“We made six changes in high performance, we brought in Max Rooke, a new reserves coach, Michelle Mitchell as our player development manager and also someone in sports psychology.

“We are getting to the point where we have enough resources to give these guys the best chance.”

Gary Ablett, Aaron Hall, Steven May and Tom Nicholls will return against West Coast, with Trent McKenzie, Adam Saad, Touk Miller, Alex Sexton and Matt Rosa available the week after.

Rodney Eade (second from right) and Marcus Ashcroft (second from left) speak at the Suns’ members forum on Tuesday night. Picture: Regi Varghese

David Swallow has been strongly linked to his brother Andrew’s North Melbourne, but Ashcroft says he is going nowhere.

“He is contracted next year and we want him as part of our club. Everyone can be as subjective as they want but he has got a contract and we want him as part of our footy club,” he said.

Ashcroft also believes Jaeger O’Meara will stay as he closes on a NEAFL return after knee issues.

“Internally there is a lot of energy and positivity. Everyone is really motivated, especially Jaeger. He wants to come back and play a lot of footy in the second half of the year,” he said.

“We are consciously trying to get feedback from the players so we think we are on the right path.

“All we can do is have faith in what we are doing and the feedback is we are on the right path.”