Solomon eager to stay put on Coast
DEAN Solomon says he wants to remain at the Gold Coast even if he isn’t given the vacant Suns senior coaching position.
Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans hasn’t completed the review of the club’s football department, an analysis that encompasses the assistants – including Solomon – as well as recruitment and football operations staff.
Evans has all but guaranteed Solomon he will survive any cull.
“We need Dean Solomon at our club next year in any case,” Evans said.
Solomon is among the names touted as a potential replacement to sacked coach Rodney Eade and was recently offered a job with GWS.
But the Essendon premiership winner said he wanted to stay at the Suns even if overlooked for the top role.
“My first preference is to stay at the Suns,” he said.
“I still believe this club has a really bright future. There is a core of players in and around that first to four year mark at the moment that can develop into a really good group.
“It’s just going to take a lot of hard work. I still see the bigger picture and see there is a path to success with this group. I’m hopeful to stay at this football club.
“It’s nice to hear (Evans’ feedback), there is no doubt about that.
“Once these two games are out of the way we will sit down with Mark Evans and the board and discuss what my future looks like and we will go from there.”
Keegan Brooksby will play his second AFL game of the year today when he moves into the ruck following the loss of Dan Currie (foot) after last weekend’s loss to Brisbane.
The Suns are missing their top three ruckman in Jarrod Witts (shoulder), Currie (foot) and Tom Nicholls (ankle).
“Tommy was trying to get up for this week but he has missed three of four weeks now so even if he was available we couldn’t select him at AFL level,” Solomon said.
“It is too much of a risk so Keegan Brooksby will get his chance to come up.
“(Brooksby) has been sensational at NEAFL level all year. His leaderships has been absolutely super.
“He is driving really heavy standards and we know he can provide a good contest in and around the ball for us.”
The Suns faltered late against Brisbane like they have done against many teams this year and Solomon said it came down to fatigue of the mind, not the body.
“Our guys make poor decisions under fatigue and we are addressing that through training,” Solomon said.
“In training we are making them make smarter decisions quicker and that’s what you need to implement and transfer to game day.
“All our GPS stuff and running stuff is exactly the same to the opposition, it’s just our mind is slower and that’s what we need to work on.”