Suns rise is on the way Coast hatches new revival strategy

GOLD Coast has presented its strategic vision to the AFL as part of plans to resurrect the embattled club.

Suns’ chief executive Mark Evans recently met with league bosses to outline ways to combat the key failings which have plagued the club since its debut in 2011.

These have included an unexpected salary cap squeeze, resource shortfalls, welfare and leadership problems and the club’s player retention disaster.

Evans presented a broad plan to fix the club’s shortcomings and, in particular, “break the cycle” of key player departures. In addition, the Suns will lodge a submission requesting special assistance draft concessions next month, likely to include a priority pick and extra mature-age player access.

But Gold Coast has also prioritised the need to create a first-class football environment to boost its player retention rate under a newlook administration.

The Suns remain in the bottom part of the ladder in their eighth season, sparking fears about their long-term future.

The Suns had the youngest list in the league this season and will most likely get younger next year, following the loss of superstar free agent Tom Lynch and possibly uncontracted veteran Michael Barlow.

But Evans told league chiefs the club remains committed to recruiting the best young talent at the draft and supplementing it with some mature-age recruits with excellent character.

Fixing the salary cap squeeze is also a priority under new list boss Craig Cameron.

Despite the loss of Lynch, Gold Coast is faced with a much tighter than anticipated salary cap, which will prevent the Suns from going all-out in this year’s exchange period.

It is understood some of the club’s third-year players are on salaries up to $400,000 a year, significantly more than some Melbourne-based clubs.

A rival list boss said “I was staggered to hear how much they were paying some players.”

The Suns’ crippling injury list has also led to a mountain of unforeseen injury payments. GEELONG FB J Kolodjashnij HB C HF FF Foll J Bews M Blicavs S Menegola D Menzel R Abbot Inter Emer