Suns coach makes comparison with his former premiership champion
Damien Hardwick may not – yet – have been able to convince Dustin Martin to join him on the Gold Coast but the master coach believes he has the superstar’s heir apparent already suiting up at the Suns.
“The way he plays, how explosive and tough he is, I sometimes have to remind myself he’s only just turned 19,” says Hardwick.
“He reminds me of another player I used to coach who won three premierships and a Brownlow Medal … he’s got the ability to change games.”
It’s high praise for secondyear Sun Bailey Humphrey, whose debut AFL season could have easily been overlooked by those not paying close attention.
The 19-year-old debuted in Round 4 last year and played 19 consecutive games before sitting out the final round with a finger injury.
Humphrey booted 11 goals as a medium forward and was even included in the Suns’ stacked midfield rotation over the course of the season.
He heralded his AFL arrival with 26 disposals and a goal against the Lions in Round 7 – only a week after earning a Rising Star nomination following 20 touches and a goal in a big win over West Coast.
Like Martin, Humphrey has
Premier: Brisbane. Close last year and will be better this year because of the experience and because of personnel additions. Runner-up: GWS Brownlow: Bontempelli (WB) Coleman: C.Curnow (Carl) Top 8: Lions, Giants, Pies, Power, Demons, Blues, Swans, Saints.
Bottom 4 (15-18th): Tigers, Dockers, Kangas, Eagles. Wooden spoon: West Coast Big year for: Melbourne. If the Demons win the flag it will be a hell of a story.
Young talent to shine: Darcy Wilson. The Saints nailed the draft with this kid. Has speed and skill.
One big call for 2024: Suns won’t make the eight. a knack for maximising the impact of his touches. His ability to explode out of traffic and involve himself in scoring chains made him a key cog in the Suns’ set up even as an 18-yearold rookie.
So impressed were the Suns with his early production they put a four-year contract extension in front of him after just 11 games, tying Humphrey to the club until the end of 2028.
It also ties him and Hardwick together for at least the next five years in a pairing that both hope will prove fruitful.
Hardwick was headhunted by the Suns for more than just his coaching acumen. The club expects the triple-premiership coach will bring with him a winning brand of footy, but also hopes his presence will help raise its profile throughHumphrey
Premier: Brisbane. The best attack in the game will win. Runner-up: Collingwood Brownlow: Bontempelli (WB) Coleman: J.Cameron (Geel) Top 8: Lions, Crows, Magpies, Blues, Bulldogs, Giants, Demons, Cats.
Bottom 4: Eagles, Hawks, Dockers, Kangaroos. Wooden spoon: North Melb. Big year for: Luke Beveridge. We all know what will happen if things go south this year. Young talent to shine: Josh Gibcus. His third year, but we will see the tall Tiger blossom? One big call for 2024: Sayonara pre-finals bye, with a grand final week concussion to be huge news and force the week off to after the preliminary final in 2025. out the AFL. Part of Hardwick’s salesmanship of the Suns is to wax lyrical about his players – and what better way to earn some early cut through than by comparing a young gun to one of the game’s all-time greats?
When told his coach had already likened him to ‘Dusty’, Humphrey chuckled.
“Yeah I’ve heard a bit of that – it doesn’t help I’ve started getting tattoos as well,” he said, adding he planned to add more ink at the end of this season.
“Dimma being a new coach coming in and having so much confidence in me has really made my footy go through the roof.
Premier: Collingwood Runner-up: Carlton Brownlow: Nick Daicos (Coll) Coleman: Nick Larkey (NM) Top 8: Magpies, Lions, Blues, Power, Demons, Giants, Swans, Crows.
Bottom 4: Hawks, Dockers, Kangaroos, Eagles.
Wooden spoon: West Coast Big year for: Luke Beveridge. The Bulldogs can’t afford to miss finals again after an off-season of change. Young talent to shine: George Wardlaw. Even if the Kangaroos have a rough year, they’ll be worth watching because of him. One big call for 2024:
Both Western Australia clubs to be searching for new coaches by round 18.
“I can’t wait play under him. He’s going to do some amazing things for this club.” That opinion goes ways.
When Hardwick was unveiled as Suns coach last August, he declared “80 per cent” of Gold Coast’s first premiership side was already on the list.
That comment came to both with
Premier: Brisbane Lions. So close in 2023, but heartbreak holds them in good stead. Runner-up: Carlton Brownlow: Nick Daicos (Coll) Coleman: C.Curnow (Carl) Top 8: Lions, Blues, Magpies, Demons, Power, Swans, Cats, Saints.
Bottom 4: Tigers, Hawks, Eagles, Kangaroos.
Wooden spoon: North Melb. Big year for: Essendon fans keeping the faith in the build despite missing finals again. Young talent to shine:
Sam Darcy. Incredible young tall flying under the radar. Has to play, Bevo.
One big call for 2024: Brodie Grundy named AllAustralian ruckman after brilliant comeback season. firmly in mind.
“I must admit I knew very little about him before I came up here, but watching him at training he has dominated,” Hardwick said.
“He’s only in his second year but I’m looking forward to seeing what he can produce for us this year.”
The Suns coach will give Humphrey a licence to thrill this season as he takes on the same role that helped turn Martin into one of the game’s
Premier: Brisbane Lions. So close last year and will improve. Grand Final experience, tick tick. Runner-up: GWS Brownlow: C.Petracca (Mel) Coleman: J.Cameron (Geel) Top 8: Lions, Magpies, Giants, Blues, Demons, Power, Crows, Bulldogs.
Bottom 4: Tigers, Hawks, Kangaroos, Eagles.
Wooden spoon: West Coast. Big year for: Luke Beveridge and the Dogs. Can’t miss the finals again with the talent at his disposal.
Young talent to shine: Bailey Humphrey will be given a licence to thrill by Hardwick. One big call for 2024: Concussion calls will shape season and finals campaigns. modern greats.
The teenager, who went 6th overall in the 2022 AFL draft, will work in tandem with Ben Ainsworth in a high half-forward and occasional midfield role ala the Martin-Kane Lambert combination that worked so well at Richmond under Hardwick.
In a system that at its core is all about structure and consistency, Humphrey will be an odd man out.
“The role Dimma has given
Premier: Melbourne. Instead of breaking the Dees, the off-field scandals will actually galvanise the group. Runner-up: Carlton Brownlow: Tom Green (GWS) Coleman: J.Cameron (Geel) Top 8: Demons, Blues, Bulldogs, Magpies, Crows, Lions, Cats, Giants.
Bottom 4: Bombers, Hawks, Kangaroos, Eagles.
Wooden spoon: West Coast. Big year for: There is nowhere to hide for the Dogs and coach Luke Beveridge. Boom or bust. Young talent to shine: Jhye Clark. Injury-free run this season will see the Joel Selwood clone impact.
One big call for 2024: Clayton Oliver will play every game and win Dees’ B&F.