Gold Coast executives present strategic vision to AFL as part of plan to save Suns

GOLD Coast has presented a strategic vision to the AFL as part of plans to resurrect the embattled club, which has struggled with substandard facilities and resourcing and an inability to retain key players.

Gold Coast boss Mark Evans has outlined a plan to save the Suns.

GOLD Coast has presented its strategic vision to the AFL as part of plans to resurrect the embattled club.

Suns’ chief executive Mark Evans recently met with league bosses to outline ways to combat the key failings which have plagued the club since its debut 2011 AFL season.

These have included an unexpected salary cap squeeze, resource shortfalls, welfare and leadership problems and the club’s player retention disaster.

PRIORITY PICKS: WILL SUNS ASK AFL FOR HELP?

NO REGRETS: BOCK HAPPY WITH SUNS DEFECTION

Tom Lynch has walked out on the Suns, who have struggled to retain key players throughout their existence. Picture: AAP

Evans presented a broad plan to fix the club’s shortcomings and, in particular, ‘break the cycle’ of key player departures.

In addition, the Suns will lodge a submission requesting special assistance draft concessions next month, likely to include a priority pick and extra mature-age player access.

But Gold Coast has also prioritised the need to create a first-class football environment to boost its player retention rate under a new-look administration.

The Suns remain in the bottom part of the ladder in their eighth season, sparking fears about their long-term future.

Despite calls to merge the Suns with a Tasmanian team, AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan has said Gold Coast is safe.

The Suns had the youngest list in the league this season and will most likely get younger next year, following the loss of superstar free agent Tom Lynch and possibly uncontracted veteran Michael Barlow.

Will Michael Barlow be at the Suns next season? Picture: Getty Images

But Evans told league chiefs the club remains committed to recruiting the best young talent at the draft and supplementing it with some mature-age recruits with excellent character.

Fixing the salary cap squeeze is also a priority under new list boss Craig Cameron.

Despite the loss of superstar free agent Lynch, Gold Coast is faced with a much tighter than anticipated salary cap, which will prevent the Suns from going all-out in this year’s exchange period.

It is understood some of the club’s third-year players are on salaries up to $400,000 a year, which is significantly more than some Melbourne-based clubs.

A rival list boss said “I was staggered to hear how much they were paying some players.”

The Suns’ crippling injury list has also led to a mountain of unforeseen injury payments.

A key part of the Suns’ approach is to reassess some players’ payments in accordance with their performance.

The Suns have previously felt forced to pay players “overs” to retain youngsters in the face of raids form rivals.

Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans has outlined the club’s future vision to the AFL. Picture: AAP

The Suns also argued the introduction of free agency has heavily counted against the start-up club.

Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos says the club should receive as many as five extra mature-age players to beef-up its young list.

Importantly, the Suns are confident they have the right people in key positions required to help ignite a resurgence.

Evans told the Herald Sun last month the club was keen to discuss changes to the trade and draft system which could help the Suns.

“If the competitive balance continues to be diluted with the current level of player movement and free agency in particular, then the system will need to compensate for that,” Evans said.

“If that means a change to the drafting system or changes to other mechanism, I think we are going to need to do that.

“Or risk that teams at the bottom of the ladder aren’t able to break the cycle.”

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >