One step back, two steps forward: Damien Hardwick lays down Suns’ path to AFL finals

Damien Hardwick is willing to make short-term sacrifices by blooding plenty of young players at once, and hinted that another young gun could be handed a debut soon.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick says blooding debutants is a part of his plan to push into finals by the end of the season. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says the club still has finals firmly in its sights this season, even if some short-term sacrifices have to be made to blood its glut of talented youngsters.

Hardwick swung the axe last week, making seven changes ahead of the clash with the GWS Giants, included three AFL debutants in Will Graham, Ethan Read and Sam Clohesy.

It came two weeks after the Suns coach handed key forward Jed Walter his debut against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.

Hardwick’s decision to blood three players against one of the premiership favourites raised some eyebrows around the league, however the triple-premiership coach revealed it was all part of a calculated plan to get his side humming for a finals charge late in the season.

“It’s always been my philosophy – if you think they’re AFL players, give them the opportunity to play,” he said.

“They’re not going to play every game because they’re young and inexperienced, but we’d like to give them the opportunity to apply their wares and see how they go against the very best teams going around.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick says blooding debutants is a part of his plan to push into finals by the end of the season. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“We’re not making excuses. We still sit there and say firmly we want to be a finals football club (and) those players are going to help us on the journey.

“Are we going to take one step back to take two steps forward? Maybe.

“But we feel by putting them in now, getting the chemistry and connection working together and getting an understanding of what that looks like, it’s only going to hold us in good stead in the second part of the year.”

Jake Rogers remains the only 2023 draftee to have not yet made his AFL debut, but Hardwick hinted his time could come sooner rather than later.

“He’s not too far away – he excites me, Jake Rogers,” Hardwick said.

“It’s a weird thing to say, but I went to sleep thinking about Jake last night.

“He’s a player I think has incredible talent … a player we’re looking (at) to come in (to the team). He’s had an injury-interrupted pre-season so he’s a little bit behind.

“He needs to get some match fitness, but he won’t be too far away.”

Hardwick hasn’t been afraid to move the magnets around this season and said he was closer to settling on his preferred side after a month of minor and major tweaks.

“We think we’re nearly there,” he said.

Gold Coast Suns debutant Sam Clohesy celebrates his first goal at AFL level during Gather Round. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“We moved some players around positions and we’re really happy with what we’ve seen. Now they just need to connect with each other and understand how each other mix and mesh.

“That will become more evident over the next three to four weeks.”

Hardwick said he was pleased with the Suns’ first three quarters against the Giants, but his players “went away from the style of game we want to implement” in the final term.

Fourth-quarter fade-outs have become something of a trend for the Suns, who have conceded 94 points in the final term over the past three matches, compared to 31 points the other way.

Saturday’s opponent Hawthorn has made a habit of late charges this season – including last Sunday, when Sam Mitchell’s side came from 25 points down at three-quarter time to finish within a kick of Collingwood.

“That is going to happen from time to time in a side that is learning and developing a system and understanding of play,” Hardwick conceded.

“Sometimes the good sides, when they put their foot on the pedal, we have to understand what that feels like, absorb it and then be able to respond. We have a little bit of work to do in that area, but we knew we would.

“Credit to Hawthorn. I think they’ve done it in three of their four games. They’ve really come with a late swing, so that’s something we’ll be aware of, but we’re hoping if we play well enough early enough (and) we get the game in our control, then we’re too far in front.”

Originally published as One step back, two steps forward: Damien Hardwick lays down Suns’ path to AFL finals