Jeff slams AFL on Suns
HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett says the AFL must take responsibility for Gold Coast’s malaise as the embattled Suns called for help to stop a player exodus.
The troubled $200 million Suns, who have failed to play finals in eight seasons, are bracing for the departure of superstar co-captain Tom Lynch.
Industry figures have declared a state of emergency at Gold Coast, saying the battling club needed a host of top draft picks and up to $2 million a year extra in salary cap money to attract new talent.
Kennett said some club presidents strongly opposed the establishment of the Suns and GWS and warned the league they faced significant challenges on and off the field.
“This is an issue, in one sense, of the AFL’s own making,” Kennett said.
“Not necessarily the current chairman [Richard Goyder] and to a lesser degree perhaps Gill [McLachan], but it was certainly Andrew [Demetriou] and Gill and the former chairman [Mike Fitzpatrick] and therefore successors have got to take on board decisions of their predecessors.
“So, what we are seeing today is a reflection of concerns that were raised when we were told there was going to be two new clubs.
“Now the AFL has got to deal with it, there is no way anyone else can.”
Kennett said Gold Coast would continue to cost the league.
“It was always known that GWS and Gold Coast were going to need a long-term investment, and that riled some presidents at the time,” Kennett said.
“Now the boards of these struggling clubs have got to go sadly to the AFL, and the AFL don’t want any of the clubs to fail, so have therefore got to spend more money.”
Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans yesterday said the club was keen to discuss the draft and player movement mechanisms which had hurt the AFL’s “competitive balance”.
Leading player manager Liam Pickering said this week the league needed to award the Suns more cap space.
The Suns have lost hope that Lynch will stay despite his manager Paul Connors on Saturday saying he was genuinely torn about his future.