WILL DIMMA’S MAGIC HELP SUNS TO RISE?
It was another frustrating year for the Gold Coast Suns, with a strong squad unable to convert a promising start into a maiden finals appearance.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2023?
A season of expectation quickly fell flat for the Suns, who became the sideshow of the AFL late in the season after sacking coach Stuart Dew before embarking on an around-theworld pursuit of Damien Hardwick.
Under interim coach Steven King they were again in contention for finals late in the season, only to drop their final four games and finish on 10 wins for the campaign.
Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell enjoyed career-best seasons, while the Suns unearthed a star of the future in first-round pick Bailey Humphrey.
Jack Lukosius found his best position as a permanent key forward alongside Ben King, who enjoyed a solid campaign in his return from a knee injury.
Mac Andrew put his hand up as the third tall down back, while young midfielder Sam Flanders broke out in the second half of the season to add to the Suns’ engine room talent.
WHERE DO THEY FINISH IN 2024?
How quickly the team can adapt to Hardwick’s game plan could be the difference between finals or bust for the Suns in 2024.
It’s all positive coming out of pre-season so far, but players and coaching staff have been frank that it will take time to properly implement the new coach’s system.
The long-term outlook of the list improved substantially with the addition of four Suns Academy stars in the draft, however it may take time for them to make a proper impact at AFL level.
In Gold Coast’s favour is the age profile of its best players, the bulk of whom fall in the 24-29 range and are coming into their prime.
BIGGEST IMPROVER FOR 2024?
Malcolm Rosas Jr is the one. He has all the talent to be a top line small forward in the AFL but hasn’t been able to find consistency as yet.
He comes with all the tools Hardwick likes in his small pressure forwards and should be given every opportunity to flourish under the new coach.
If he can improve his tank – as he declared late last season was his goal – then 2024 could be the year we glimpse Rosas’ true potential.
COACH STATUS
Gold Coast got its man with a monster six-year deal tying Hardwick to the Suns for the foreseeable future.
There is plenty of expectation on the triple-premiership coach, but the Suns have gone all-in on Hardwick and for better or worse will be tied to him over the journey.
WHO IS IN LAST YEAR OF CONTRACT?
Alex Davies, Alex Sexton, Ben Ainsworth, Ben King, Bodhi Uwland, Brandon Ellis, Darcy Macpherson, Hewago Oea, James Tsitas, Jarrod Witts, Levi Casboult, Lloyd Johnston, Ned Moyle, Nick Holman, Oskar Faulkhead, Sam Clohesy, Sam Day, Sandy Brock, Sean Lemmens, Thomas Berry, Will Rowlands