AFL 2023: Stuart Dew declares himself an easy target as heat grows on Gold Coast coach

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has hit out at claims by Channel 9’s Caroline Wilson that he was set to be sacked, claiming the comments were ‘unfounded’.

Stuart Dew has been under pressure as Suns coach. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew believes he’s an easy target and has hit back at claims after his future was put on red alert on Monday night.

Dew was assured at a meeting with Suns Chief executive Mark Evans on Tuesday that a report claiming he will be sacked within a month were “unfounded.”

Dew also received a text message from Suns chairman, Bob East who is holidaying in Vietnam, offering words of support.

The claims, made by Channel 9’s Caroline Wilson, were extremely disappointing Dew said Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Dew told the Herald Sun on Tuesday night: “He (Evans) absolutely told me it (the report) was unfounded.”

The claims, made by Channel 9’s Caroline Wilson, were extremely disappointing Dew said.

“There’s no accountability,” he said.

“Last year, (Alastair) Clarkson’s got my job, then he’s got Essendon’s job, Carlton’s job.

“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.

“For me I’ve been in the industry for a long time but it’s your family and you’re constantly fielding calls from those people.

Dew said the players approached him about the reports on Tuesday.

“The players are filthy. They’re like, ‘you’re our coach mate, we’ve signed knowing you’re going to be our coach and we’re in it.’

“They asked me ‘what do you want to do about (the claims)’.

“I said boys don’t worry about it.”

Stuart Dew has rubbished claims he is about to be sacked. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

About his future, Dew said: “I’ll know before anyone if I’m not the one.

“We are building something … everyone’s on board.

“Noah Anderson doesn’t sign, Ben King doesn’t sign if they can’t see success.

“ … it’s just disappointing, just find some new material.

The Suns were thrashed by 78 points on Saturday afternoon by Collingwood putting Dew’s future once again under the microscope.

Former teammate and three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick has been linked to Suns role after he declared he was keen to coach again last week.

Dew said his side still had belief despite the loss to Collingwood.

“People in our club get what we’re doing, where we are at. It was a bad loss on the weekend but that Collingwood team might win the grand final this year by 10 goals.

“And that’s not to say our effort wasn’t great.”

Originally published as AFL 2023: Stuart Dew declares himself an easy target as heat grows on Gold Coast coach