Gold Coast Suns part ways with coach Stuart Dew as coaching race intensifies

The Gold Coast Suns have brought an end to an era, parting ways with coach Stuart Dew amid intense scrutiny over their middling fortunes.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Stuart Dew coach of the Suns during wuothe round 17 AFL match between Port Adelaide Power and Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval, on July 08, 2023, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The Gold Coast Suns have parted ways with coach Stuart Dew.

The decision is understood to have been made last night, with Dew’s position under increased pressure in recent weeks.

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Seven football journalist Tom Browne reported the news on Tuesday morning, saying in a tweet that the Suns have “parted company” with the former Port Adelaide and Hawthorn forward.

Dew departs as Gold Coast’s longest-serving coach, having overseen 121 games for 36 wins, 84 losses and a draw.

Stuart Dew’s job had been under real pressure in recent weeks. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Gold Coast Suns released a statement on July 11 confirming the news, and that Dew would conclude his time at the club with “immediate effect.”

“The Gold Coast Suns can confirm the club has determined Stuart Dew’s position as Senior Coach will conclude with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.

Suns chairman Bob East said the club were looking to improve in the “pursuit of success”.

“Last night the Gold Coast Suns Board of Directors met, and it was determined that Stuart Dew would not continue in his role as Senior Coach,” East said.

“We feel we have a great opportunity to achieve success with this group but haven’t seen the improvement we were after in 2023 and as a football club we must be prepared to make tough decisions, in that pursuit of success.

“Stuart has made a significant contribution to this football club, dedicating countless hours towards helping establish a platform from which our club can grow, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him, his wife Sarah and family for the last six years.”

Assistant coach Steven King will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season, his first head coaching role after previous assistant roles at St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.

Dew was contracted through to the end of 2024, and the news comes amid recent remarks hitting out at reporting over his future with the Suns.

Recently, Dew hit out at “unfounded” claims by veteran journalist Caroline Wilson, claiming Suns players are “filthy” over reports he was on the brink of being sacked.

Wilson had previously reported Dew’s days were “numbered” as Suns coach, with the 43-year-old facing the axe within weeks, and likely to be replaced by ex-Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

Wilson has said multiple times throughout the year she believes Dew will not be at the club in 2024, well before the loss to Collingwood in Round 16.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson, however, revealed that Dew had been told by Suns chief executive Mark Evans the claims weren’t true.

Dew was previously an assistant at Sydney. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“The chairman of the Suns, Bob East, he’s on holidays in Vietnam and he sent a text to Dew just saying, you know, get on with it and you’ll be fine,” Robinson said on AFL 360.

“Dew - he was angry. And he’s not alone. He told me that the players, to quote his word, are filthy.

“A lot of the players wanted to speak out today. They wanted to contact media and say no, no, no, Stuart Dew’s our man.

“A lot of us have signed on at the club because Stuart Dew was reappointed. Dew said no, don’t worry about it.”

Dew himself spoke on the record earlier in the year about Wilson’s reporting.

“Last year, (Alastair) Clarkson’s got my job, then he’s got Essendon’s job, Carlton’s job,” the former Sydney assistant told the Herald Sun.

“In the past 18 months she’s gone six or seven times about me and not once has she bothered to pick up the phone to me.

“She just doesn’t care about the person.”

In 12 years in the competition, the Suns are yet to finish higher than 12th, and currently languish in 13th despite having arguably the most talented young core in the competition, including the likes of Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, Ben King, Jack Lukosius and Charlie Ballard.

The Suns are expected to sound out former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick for the role, who recently admitted he “misses” coaching on the Dyl and Friends podcast.

Hardwick and Dew were premiership teammates at Port Adelaide in 2004, and the pair have split the honours in head-to-head coaching contests over the years, each winning three games apiece.