Re-signed Dew sees best still to come
NEWLY reappointed Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has vowed “the best is yet to come” for the Suns after being rewarded with a new two-year deal, ending speculation about his future at the club.
Gold Coast made the announcement on Wednesday, confident that Dew had done enough to warrant the new contract.
Dew had entered the season under significant pressure and had to deal with the spectre of his former coach Alastair Clarkson potentially being a replacement alternative.
But despite a season-ending injury to the club’s most exciting player Ben King, and three separate knee reconstructions during the course of the season, Dew still has the Suns sitting at 7-8 on the ladder.
Dew said on Wednesday his reappointment was a show of faith and there was much more work to be done to take the club where it needs to go.
“It’s our goal to chase down ‘firsts’ for this football club. A first AFL finals campaign, winning our first AFL final and of course chasing our first Premiership,” Dew said.
“The job is not done, and the best is yet to come.”
He said he was “immensely proud” to coach the Suns and had been assisted by “some fantastic people around me”.
“We’ve laid some exciting foundations to build on in the coming years,” Dew added.
“We have had an unprecedented level of commitment, support and dedication from everyone involved to create a connection to a journey that people believed in. I love this club and the game, and it gives me all the love back.’’
Under Dew’s stewardship, the Suns have assembled a tight-knit group of elite talent that has committed to the future with recent signings including Touk Miller, Ben King and Jack Lukosius.
Gold Coast has also put in place a strong team around Dew, including football boss Wayne Campbell and list boss Craig Cameron.