Retaining talent spur for Suns
GOLD Coast says it has a wealth of captaincy options as it creates a seven- person “personal excellence centre” to help retain its new draftees.
The Suns will this summer bring in 25 new staff and players as it attempts to stem the bleeding after a talent drain that includes its two co- captains. While there are already predictions of a winless season and struggles to retain Victorian tall Ben King, the Suns are bullish about their prospects.
Football boss Jon Haines said yesterday the Suns would this summer undergo a major restructuring of their welfare and leadership programs.
An injection of cash from the AFL will help fund a club that has lagged behind all other clubs in football department spending.
Highly rated coach and administrator Shaun Hart will head up a program that will oversee welfare, leadership and player development.
He will be joined by Matt Kennedy and Darren Rumble as well as sports psychologists Tristan Coulter and Cliff Mallett.
By the time the Suns hire staffers in new female and indigenous roles they believe they will have the ideal program to develop their emerging stars.
“We are taking responsibility for the development of these young men and we need to resource it appropriately,’’ Haines said.