’All the people I need’: Damien Hardwick happy with Suns list, coaching staff

Newly appointed Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has responded to speculation he wants to bring Dustin Martin north.

Damien Hardwick is the new coach of the Gold Coast Suns. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Newly appointed Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says most of the components of the Suns’ next premiership side are already on their list.

The Richmond triple-premiership mentor was unveiled as the Suns’ new coach on Monday morning, with the massive six-year deal sealed after Gold Coast chairman Bob East and chief executive Mark Evans flew to Milan to persuade the holidaying Hardwick to join the club.

Hardwick said he was excited to play with a “great new bunch of toys”, with only “little bits” needed as additions to propel the Suns to an inaugural flag during his tenure.

The 51-year-old will step into the role following Gold Coast’s round 24 clash against North Melbourne in Hobart, with a six-year contract taking him through to the end of the 2029 season.

“I think 80 per cent of our first premiership side is sitting in this room right now,” Hardwick said.

“There’ll be a few bits added along the way, but the fact of the matter is this club is very capable of saluting in the not too distant future.

A personal message from Dimma to SUNS fans. pic.twitter.com/VtR7K59ifX

— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) August 21, 2023

“I’m not putting a ceiling on this group … I’m very excited about the playing list. I likened it to waking up on Christmas Day and walking out to a set of brand new toys, which is very exciting.”

Hardwick would not be drawn on whether he wanted his former star player, dual Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, to join him at the Suns next season.

“He’s a contracted player at Richmond … all I want to do at the moment is sit back and enjoy the moment I’ve got here,” Hardwick said.

“List management decisions will come in due course … over the next couple of weeks I’ll step back in and start to do a little bit of list management.”

The new coach said he also had no plans to bring his own people into the club’s football department, expressing strong support for the existing assistant coaches led by current caretaker Steven King and including Rhyce Shaw, Brad Miller and Josh Drummond.

Damien Hardwick says he doesn’t need to chase his former players or assistant coaches to be successful due to the talent already at the Suns. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

“I think we’re pretty set, I’m happy with the people we’ve got. I’m very confident in the footy department that we’ve managed to bring together,” he said.

“At this stage I’m sitting here thinking I’ve got all the people I need in the building, and I don’t really need to bring anyone else in at this stage.”

Hardwick arrived back in Australia last week after a lengthy overseas holiday and attended the MCG on Saturday for the final games of his premiership captain Trent Cotchin and star forward Jack Riewoldt.

He said a style of play similar to Richmond’s was what Gold Coast fans could expect to see next season.

“We’ll bring a style of play that will be relatively similar to what you see Collingwood, GWS and Richmond play,” he said.

“Let’s make sure we’ve got a game style we can implement that brings out the strengths of our players … fast, dynamic footy I love, and I’m sure our fans will love as well.”