Brownie called in to help Suns get it Wright
GOLD Coast have once again gone behind enemy lines for a mentor, recruiting Lions great Jonathan Brown to help young forward Peter Wright.
The Suns need Wright to physically impose himself on the competition this year and have sought help from one of the toughest players the game has seen.
The mentoring was arJESSY ranged by former Lion Matthew Kennedy who has returned to the Suns for a second stint, this time in player welfare and development.
Kennedy is a firm friend of Brown’s and in his last stint at the Suns arranged mentoring for former skipper Tom Lynch which greatly assisted his development.
Lynch morphed from a running machine into a contested marking machine who carried with him an air of menace and a willingness to always fly the flag for his side.
Wright has the biggest shoes in football to fill, replacing Lynch as the primary target inside the Suns’ forward line.
Gold Coast football manager Jon Haines said Brown was not joining the Suns in an official capacity and had not attended training but confirmed the triple premiership Lion had assumed a mentoring role with Wright.
It is expected the relationship will continue throughout the season.
“Peter has found beneficial,’’ he said.
“Jon was really keen to help out, he takes an interest in the key forwards and we think he is going to be helpful for Peter getting advice from someone who has played that role and had great success. it really
“When he speaks he makes sense and with his credibility in the game, his views hold a lot of weight. Young emerging key position players like Pete in particular can learn a lot from him.’’
The former Top 10 draft pick is an elite runner, has strong hands and is an exceptional kick for a tall player.
However, he does not yet command the footy from his teammates.