SUNS’ PLANS
Nine years, no finals, little competitiveness. Amid a sorry history and run of 12 straight losses for the Suns, Tom Boswell sits down with football manager Jon Haines to discuss the plan ahead.
THE PRIORITY PICK
It seems Suns chairman Tony Cochrane jumped the gun when he declared the club would request a priority pick last week while others believe they should use the potential assistance as trade bait to secure experienced players who can impact the list now.
It’s understood Gold Coast are looking at every aspect of building a list, from player retention allowances, free agency, draft system, academy model and more. The current free agency model often provides a compensation pick to the club losing the talent, looking after their future but impacting them now. The club receiving the talent improves their list immediately and keeps hold of their top pick.
“The priority pick discussion has been interesting. Our focus has been around developing a debate or discussion about the AFL on the whole system,” Jon Haines said.
“We believe there are some structural challenges and obstacles within the system at the moment that we are keen to explore deeper with the AFL. Whatever that looks like it won’t be focused on any one thing.”
So whether Gold Coast get a priority pick or not, how will they use their top selection at the national draft?
“You never say never to anything at this stage of the year in terms of your planning process,” Haines said.
NEED FOR EXPERIENCED TALENT – AND WILL THEY COME?
Gold Coast have had trouble attracting A-grade talent to the club but Haines said the dial was turning after assessing the interest in the market already this year.
Rival clubs are already finding the Suns tougher to play against.
“The level of interest from player managers and players from other clubs has been really strong,” Haines said.
“The perception of the football club in the market has shifted significantly, particularly in the last 12 months.
“That’s through word of mouth among players and people like George (HorlinSmith), Anthony (Miles) and Jack (Hombsch).”
Haines said survey results by the AFL Players Association during their visit to the club last week also showed the perception of the club by the playing group had changed.
The departure of cocaptains Tom Lynch and Steven May, Kade Kolodjashnij, Jack Scrimshaw, Aaron Hall and Jarryd Lyons, all on good money, brought the club’s Total Player Payments back from crisis point last year.
Lynch was a major blow but the club was relatively comfortable with the other players leaving. They are now
re-signing players at market value instead of paying overs.
WHERE TO FROM HERE, BUILDING THE LIST
Gold Coast have one of the youngest lists in the AFL and no genuine A-graders.
It means they are hit harder by injuries to their best and feel the pinch when they walk out the door. The club’s strategy on how they build the list from here is critical.
So how do they do it? The club believes they have a handful of players who can develop into A-graders, want to draft 23-year-olds who can grow with the group and sign experienced talent with more quality than in the past.
They have 25 to 30 players on the list who are genuine challengers for a spot in the best 22 each week but they need that to raise to 30-35.
“We can have all the ambition in the world but if we don’t build great systems and solid foundations, the level of ambition will not be achieved,” Haines said.
WILL MARTIN FOLLOW OTHER BIG NAMES OUT THE DOOR?
History suggests when the club’s biggest player puts off making a decision on their future in the final year of his deal, they leave.
Look no further than Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch and Steven May as examples.
It’s what Jack Martin has done this year and the silky ball user may be out for the rest of the season after dislocating his finger.
Haines said the club has held numerous discussions with Martin and his management through the season and remain confident they may still be able to retain him.
“We have had discussions with Jack and his partner Britt (Forster) over the course of the year,” Haines said.
“Those discussions are ongoing but we feel the openness and honest of those have been really strong.”
ON-FIELD GAME STYLE
Pressure in the contest and improving their defence have been the priority in 2019 under second-year coach Stuart Dew (right).
“At different times over the past four to six weeks we have seen that ball movement start to take shape,” Haines said.
“Like all game styles, the development will take some time to embed and become consistent.”
INVESTMENT IN FUTURE TALENT AND WELFARE
When Stuart Dew (right) and Haines arrived at the end of 2017 they spent the first year overhauling the high performance program, football department and welfare operations.
They instigated many of those changes at the end of last year, to the point where Haines said Gold Coast invested equal to, and more in most cases, than other clubs.
“We would be as resourced or more resourced than any club in the context of our financial spend, our headcount and our expertise in our personal excellence area,” Haines said.