Report: Problems at Suns started off the field
GOLD Coast Suns documented critical shortfalls in their medical and conditioning departments that helped spark a crippling player exodus.
Former football manager Marcus Ashcroft sounded the alarm about glaring off-field deficiencies to the Suns board in 2012, as the struggling Suns lost their first 14 games in their second AFL season.
Poor training facilities and under-resourced off-field services have been blamed as key reasons for many player departures, leaving the AFL’s $200 million gamble at rock bottom in the club’s eighth season.
A review of the Suns’ 2012 medical and conditioning departments showed the club had spent $750,000 on staff, almost $400,000 less than the club average.
Carlton ($1.4 million) and Collingwood ($1.2 million) topped the spending, according to the Gold Coast report.
Ashcroft said in a damning club assessment the Suns were under-resourced in the “critical” high-performance area, jeopardising the players’ onfield development and retention strategy.
“The conditioning/medical review process has been thorough, confirming a gap in expertise in one of the most critical positions in our football department,” Ashcroft wrote.
The Suns have failed to play finals in eight campaigns and will call on the AFL to provide emergency assistance including a priority draft pick at the end of the season.
Ashcroft, now in the AFL football operations department, urged the board to provide funding for a highperformance manager with at least seven years experience.
Gold Coast replaced respected fitness guru Andrew Weller with Adelaide’s Steven Schwerdt for 2013.