Suns coach still ‘glass half full’ about future
GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew isn’t surprised departing Hawthorn mentor Alastair Clarkson has been linked to the Suns job following the team’s shocking loss to Melbourne.
Dew, who won an AFL premiership in 2008 with the Hawks under Clarkson, said the Suns were desperate to finish their season on a high – starting on Saturday against Carlton – after last weekend’s embarrassing loss to the Demons.
And while he is adamant he had the backing of Gold Coast players and officials to remain in charge beyond this season, Dew said it was expected that the suddenly available supercoach Clarkson would be touted as a Suns’ saviour on the back of a heavy defeat.
“It comes with the job, it comes with the territory and to be fair, on the back of loss like that, it’s expected,” Dew said.
“But what we are really confident, internally, is we made a decision a couple of years ago, or at least build on what that looks like.
“Internally we think with our players, we’ve created a great environment. They’ve bought into the plan, they’re really confident where we’re going and that’s the most important thing – what’s our players and staff telling us, and how did they feel about the future as opposed to outside looking in.
“We understand that at different times that’s looked grim but also there’s times when people have been really positive about us. We’re certainly glass half full with us, but that’s what our players are telling us and how they’re behaving. They’re my ultimate feedback, to be honest.”
Dew added that it was “premature” for Clarkson, 53, to be linked with another job after only just announcing he would be leaving Hawthorn at the of the season after a 17-year tenure that included four premierships.