TIME TO FIX IT
AFL GREAT’S ADVICE FOR THE SUNS
JONATHAN Brown believes part of Gold Coast’s initial set-up was a disgrace but says the mistakes of the past need to be put to bed if the Suns are to have any chance of succeeding in the AFL.
It’s been eight fruitless years since the Suns entered the competition.
With former captain Tom Lynch wanting to join the growing list of talent who have left Carrara, the Suns will continue to be a development team for bigger clubs if they don’t cultivate enough elite players and convince them to stay.
Brown said Gold Coast brought about their own early failings with their approach to building their list while the inability to operate out of anything better than tin sheds until last year hindered them further.
“The problem they have got is they have wasted the list concessions they had at the start,” Brown said.
“They went with the wrong list build strategy that has proven to have failed.
“They should have been around a similar mark to what GWS achievements the last couple of years. The list build was wrong and they didn’t pay enough big money to the younger players and paid it to the older guys.
“Clearly they were going to struggle in their first few years.
“Unfortunately those concessions are gone now but they are still going to need some help from the AFL with priority picks.”
Brown said all was not lost and was adamant with facilities and resources sorted off field, the club had to bury the demons of the past and move forward.
“The Suns aren’t going anywhere,” Brown said.
“The AFL has committed to the 18 teams and committed to the Gold Coast Suns.
“They have infrastructure around the footy club now and they would be happy with the people in key positions.
“They have all they need. It’s a disgrace it wasn’t up like that before the club was started but at the end of the day it is what it is.”
Gold Coast have made six changes to their side for Saturday’s clash with Richmond at Metricon Stadium. Jesse Joyce, Steven May, David Swallow, Ben Ainsworth, Brayden Crossley and Jarryd Lyons replace the injured Jacob Heron, Peter Wright, Jesse Lonergan. Jacob Dawson, Sean Lemmens and Max Spencer were dropped.