Gold Coast Suns confirm two-year coaching extension for Stuart Dew

Gold Coast Suns have ended speculation about the future of coach Stuart Dew as the club continues to “chase down firsts”.

Stuart Dew’s tenure as Suns coach has been extended by two more years. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

It is finals or bust for Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew, who has been given a further two years to lead the Suns to a top-eight berth for the first time in the club’s history.

Dew promised on Wednesday “the best is yet to come” after the Suns confirmed their longest serving coach would in charge until at least 2024.

And Dew will at the very least expect in that time for the Suns to make their maiden finals appearance.

“That’s our driving factor,” he said.

“It’s over to us now to get the job done because it’s not finished.

“(Two more years is) enough security to get after what we need. Clearly we’re chasing our first finals appearance.

“The quicker the better. That’s our driving motivation and that’s what we’re going to set out to do.

“It’s our goal to chase down ‘firsts’ for this football club. A first AFL finals campaign, winning our first AFL final and of course chasing our first premiership.

“The best is yet to come.”

Ironically, the Suns’ announcement that Dew, who has coached the club since the 2018 season, came on the back of successive losses which have left the Gold Coast – who hosts Richmond on Saturday – in 11th spot on the ladder and facing a tough task to play finals football this season.

In the past, consecutive defeats and another potential late-season fade out would have led to calls for Dew’s sacking and the appointment of someone of the ilk of master mentor Alastair Clarkson.

Stuart Dew, through and through 🤝https://t.co/GjxvdKWU4A

— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) July 6, 2022

However, the announcement of Dew’s extension perhaps suggests Suns chairman Tony Cochrane wasn’t exaggerating on Wednesday in saying the decision to keep the current coach beyond this season was made behind closed doors in a February meeting.

“We talked about what we wanted as a group out of the year and the real key word that still resonates from that discussion was progression,” Cochrane said.

“We didn’t talk about wins, losses, how many goals kicked, how many goals (conceded), any of that, it all came down to wanting to see progression out of the group.”

Cochrane said the club’s ambition, improvement and progression under Dew had been “clear for everyone to see”.

“We’ve had real clarity from the start of this season on what our expectations were as a football club and our belief in our senior coach Stuart Dew,” he said.

“Stuey has worked tirelessly alongside a number of others to create an environment that sets our players, and this football club, up for success both on and off the field and we look forward to him taking us forward on that journey as we continue to build a strong culture and a winning environment.”

Despite his ongoing faith in Dew, Cochrane admitted there had been doubts along the way.

“I would be dishonest if I didn’t say there were moments when I (asked) ‘are we sure?’ (about Dew), but that is part of keeping your head and staying strong as a group, working through things, and making sure you get to the right outcome,” he said.

“You don’t make decisions on the spur of the moment.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns confirm two-year coaching extension for Stuart Dew