Stuart Dew signed a new contract eight months ago,but Gold Coast’s sluggish start to 2023 has heaped pressure on his position as coach.Credit:Getty Images
Of course,things can change quickly and an upset win over Geelong would take the heat off the 43-year-old,now in his sixth season in charge. After all,this time last year he seemed unlikely to withstand the spectre of Alastair Clarkson,who had privately expressed more than a passing interest in the Gold Coast role.
Clarkson looked headed north on a rich AFL-funded deal. Instead,the Suns players and administration backed Dew,then Essendon – which also approached the former Hawk coach – imploded at the end of the season,leaving the four-time premiership coach with little choice but to head North with a capital N.
The AFL also entertained the prospect last year of influencing its then football lieutenant Brad Scott to coach the Gold Coast. But the subtle head office headhunting ceased when the pro-Dew Suns players seemed to seal a competitive start to the season with a mid-year winning streak,albeit against three of the bottom five 2022 sides.
And the club had stemmed the bleeding of top talent,having secured key player contracts along with a bolstered football department and the previously relatively poor level of player development.
As they approached the end of the latest round of AFL draft concessions,the Suns successfully sold the decision to stick with Dew.
And the coach in return sold Gold Coast,saying it finally looked and smelt like a real football club. He said he aimed,back in early July last year,to take the Suns to their first final and their first finals victory.