AFL off-season news: Stuart Dew linked with Sydney return, Saints injury latest

Sacked Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew is closing in on a return to football and has been strongly linked to one club. Plus, more off-season changes at the Western Bulldogs.

Sydney Swans have sounded out forer Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew about rejoining the club for next season, potentially replacing new West Coast chief executive Don Pyke.

The Swans are on the hunt for a new assistant to take over from Pyke and have spoken with Dew about his plans for next season.

Dew, 44, spent eight years with the Swans from 2010-2017 and is highly-rated by senior coach John Longmire.

Dew, who had a 36 win 84 loss 1 draw record as senior coach of Gold Coast, was sacked by the Suns this year and replaced by Damien Hardwick for next season.

Dew won premierships at Port Adelaide (2004) and Hawthorn (2008) and was part of the Swans’ premiership assistant coaching panel in 2012.

He spent time working with Australia’s cricket team during the Ashes and was linked with Western Bulldogs in recent months.

Pyke was this week appointed chief executive officer at West Coast.

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs have added to their off-field team, appointing new head of physical performance Daniel Duvnjak-Zaknich and new club doctor Anthony Hispley.

Duvnjak-Zaknich has worked at Fremantle and GWS Giants and replaces former high performance boss Mathew Inness, who was poached by West Coast.

Stuart Dew previously worked for the Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

HOPE GROWS AT SAINTS FOR KING, MEMBREY

Jon Ralph

St Kilda is brimming with confidence star forward Max King will be fully fit by round 1 after a second full shoulder reconstruction within 12 months.

King is set to take his spot in the Saints forward line along with veteran forward Tim Membrey as St Kilda attempts to build in Ross Lyon’s second season back in charge.

St Kilda booked King in for surgery after a dislocation mid-year then after a second opinion delayed medical intervention until the post-season to allow him to play in the final matches of the season.

He kicked six goals against Richmond and three goals in the finals loss to GWS then had the latarjet surgery, which is vastly more secure than conventional shoulder reconstruction methods.

That surgery positions a piece of bone at the front of the shoulder to ensure the joint does not dislocate again.

King hurt his shoulder against the Dees in July. Photo by Michael Klein.

It also has a quicker return timetable, so King will be back with his teammates in coming weeks.

He will be back in full contact training on January 9, having already reported a strong range of movement in his shoulder post-surgery while ramping up a gym weights program.

Membrey missed the elimination final with a medical issue, but as reported by the Herald Sun last week is on track for the pre-season.

He has been at Moorabbin three times a week doing bike sessions and after knee surgery delayed his last pre-season is optimistic of a full summer.

Saints wingman Dan McKenzie has returned from a trip to a German specialist with a positive prognosis on his calf issues but his future at Moorabbin remains uncertain.

Tim Membrey is hopeful of completing a full pre-season. Photo by Michael Klein.

He was the latest AFL player to see world-renowned soft tissue specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt after persistent injury issues including repeated calf tears.

He was given a series of ideas he could incorporate into his fitness program, with St Kilda still open to whether it delists him, re-signs him or even keeps open a summer rookie spot.

Gold Coast is reported to have had some interest in McKenzie as it tries to build its outside run.

St Kilda has now conceded Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett will retire and will move on after pursuing him as a possible back-up to Rowan Marshall.

The Saints have re-signed Tom Campbell on a one-year deal and also have developing ruckman Max Heath on their list as well as forward-ruck Jack Hayes.

Originally published as AFL off-season news: Stuart Dew linked with Sydney return, Saints injury latest