Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick compares Suns defender Mac Andrew to Richmond great Alex Rance

Enigmatic Suns star Mac Andrew has the full backing of Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick ahead of Friday night’s clash against Collingwood.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says Mac Andrew is “capable of greatness” and has compared the emerging Suns star to five-time All-Australian representative Alex Rance.

Fox Footy expert and North Melbourne great David King this week said Andrew needed to “grow up” and had “become a problem” in defence for the Suns.

“He’s ‘Mac-adaisical’ now,” King said of Andrew, who last year signed a multimillion-dollar contract extension with the Gold Coast.

“He’s very casual, the big man … some of his off-the-ground stuff and just the refusal or the ability to be able to win a contest and stand up behind the ball.

“The days of laughing at this sort of stuff with Mac are over. It’s harden up, get serious or get into the forward line.”

Hardwick acknowledged that Andrew was perhaps “playing a little bit clouded” but said players of his age were “going to make mistakes”.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick (right) has backed Suns defender Mac Andrew. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It’s been challenging but what people forget is he’s 21 years of age,” the former Richmond premiership-winning mentor said of Andrew.

“Mac is probably thinking too much. He’s at his best when he just plays.

“The challenge we’ve had is we lost (tall defender) Charlie Ballard before the start of the season (to a long-term knee injury), and Mac has had to play a little bit of a different role.

“He’s had to play more on the best designated forwards … whereas previously he’s probably played on the third tall or that smaller type (of forward).

“People are very quick to jump on players, but he’s still playing to a very, very high level at the age of 21.”

Hardwick said Andrew reminded him of former Tigers premiership-winning player Rance, who was enigmatic in his younger days before becoming an elite defender.

“He went on to be one of the best ever,” he said of the Rance, who is part of the Suns’ football department.

“This guy (Andrew) is capable of greatness. We’ve got to understand he’s going to make some mistakes along the way.

“We’re really excited about what he’s doing now, but I am incredibly excited about what he’s going to become in the future.”

Former Tigers defender Alex Rance is part of the Gold Coast Suns’ football department. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Andrew is perhaps not the only Suns player with a point to prove on Friday night when Gold Coast host AFL leaders Collingwood, with fellow defender John Noble playing against the Magpies in a competitive match for the first time since leaving them at the end of last season.

“He doesn’t need to do anything more or anything less,” Hardwick said of Noble.

“He has had a terrific season for us thus far. He’ll probably have an element of nerves. Every player that plays against their former side does, but our expectation is he just goes to work, concentrate on his core actions and gets the job done.”

Noble said he had been “looking forward” to Friday night’s game.

“It has been circled in the calendar for me and I’m sure for a couple of them as well,” he said.

Originally published as Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick compares Suns defender Mac Andrew to Richmond great Alex Rance