Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew ‘amused’ by speculation Damien Hardwick will replace him

Not for the first time during his Gold Coast coaching tenure is Stuart Dew having to deal with a high-profile mentor being linked to his job.

Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew’s job is seemingly under threat following Damien Hardwick’s departure from Richmond. Picture: Michael Willson / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew insists he feels secure in his job despite Damien Hardwick being linked with a move to the Suns following his shock exit from Richmond.

Almost immediately after announcing on Tuesday he was leaving the Tigers, three-time premiership-winning coach Hardwick was being touted as replacement for Dew at the Suns next year.

It’s not the first time Dew has been confronted with news a high-profile mentor was being lined up to take over at the Suns, with Alastair Clarkson having last year been considered a Gold Coast target.

However, that was put to bed when Dew signed a new two-year contract, with former Hawks coach Clarkson instead moving to North Melbourne,

But despite Dew’s coaching deal, he has again been touted as a fall guy – to his amusement – should Hardwick decide to return to coaching next season.

Stuart Dew says he’s the right man to lead the Suns. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Dew said on Wednesday.

“I feel like we should be celebrating Damien, his contribution to the game, his journey … I certainly think 24 hours should have been sufficient to celebrate him.

“(But) it’s become a little bit of a sport as to who’s next. I find it amusing, (and) I texted Damien about it.

“I’m confident I’m coach of this club now and into the future, and I think the club’s pretty clear that I’m that, too.

“I’m 10 games into a new contract. We have a playing list I feel has committed to the club knowing I’m the coach, so that connection is strong.

“We’ve committed to each other and that’s powerful.”

Dew said he and the Suns squad were together for the long haul in the club’s continued bid to play finals football for the first time.

“We’re building this list from beyond scratch. We never knew how hard it was going to be, but I feel like we’re getting through that and now’s the time where we can have a list profile that can start to compete regularly and contend – that’s the exciting part.

“I love this club and I think I’m the one to lead it. (It’s as) simple as that.”

Dew said the Suns, who will chase their fifth win of the season when they meet the Western Bulldogs in Darwin on Saturday night, “know where we’re going”.

“We’re in a hurry, yes, so is everyone else, but we’ve just got to stay the course, get to work and take each week as it comes,” he said.

“It’s just the reality of the industry, so for me nothing changes.

“It’s focusing on my job, focusing on my players, the staff, the footy club, so if that’s a lesson learnt, I kept it pretty simple last year and worried about what I could and how to influence to get a positive result, providing a positive environment, (and) creating an environment where players can see a way forward and see success.

“I get inspired by their workrate and their thirst to get better.”