Suns’ pain, Tassie gain

Eade doubts Gold Coast future but backs home state’s AFL push

FORMER Gold Coast Suns coach Rodney Eade has concerns for the long-term viability of the expansion club.

Speaking on RSN Radio in Melbourne, the former Glenorchy wingman backed his home state’s push to join the AFL under the Governmentled AFL Taskforce while also raising doubts about the future of the Suns in the big league.

The AFL pumped more than $25 million into the Suns last year only to see them lose the last 18 games of 2019 to finish last and already have two players, Jack Martin and Callum Ah Chee, asking to leave the club to play elsewhere.

Asked if he had concerns about the Suns long term, Eade — who coached the side from 2015-17 — said: “Yes. The AFL need to do something other than just give them priority picks. There needs to be a circuit breaker.”

He said he had been in talks with people involved in Tasmania’s latest push, which is trying to gain 50,000 pledges at the unitedwestand.com.au website.

The 61-year-old former Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Suns coach said the Gold Coast’s demise would open the door for Tasmania’s entry.

“I would certainly love a team in Tassie,” he said.

“But I don’t know the economics and the political side of having 19 teams and then a bye and then what would happen is they would get a 20th [team], it really dilutes it [the AFL].

“How that is going to work, whether that is an 18th team and someone relocates, which is obviously the Suns.

“They [the AFL] are totally invested in the Suns with the money [but] is there a tipping point?

“The amount of money you tip in but you don’t get a return, is that coming at some stage? There is a lot up in the air and a lot of grey but certainly I’d love a team in Tassie, no doubt.”

Eade said the North-South divide was the main obstacle to overcome and only Tasmanians could solve it.

“If Tassie can work on that themselves — they have to get over that — if they can do that I can’t see a reason why they can’t be in,” Eade said.