Change of style in Nick of time
NICK Malceski is one man new Suns coach Stuart Dew doesn’t need to preach the value of the contested brand of football he wants Gold Coast to play.
There will be a Sydney Swans flavour at both senior and NEAFL level for the Suns in 2018, as former assistant Dew works alongside Malceski, a Swans premiership player who spent a decade at the club and is now Gold Coast’s reserves coach.
Dew has brought the high pressure and contested game from the southern club and Malceski couldn’t be happier ahead of his first season in control of a team.
“It is the football I enjoy coaching,” Malceski said.
“It holds up in big games that style of footy. I’ve been lucky enough to be part of something like that for 10 years at Sydney.
“All my philosophies are pretty similar to Dew so it makes it a lot easier to be able to coach the same way as he does because I have the same beliefs.
“Stuart was at Sydney for five years with me. I’ve got a good relationship with him so it does help.”
It’s a big change for the senior playing group but Malceski said it was even more imperative for the younger reserve players to learn the craft that will fast-track their footy development.
“That defensive aspect is probably more crucial at under-18s and junior level,” he said.
“To be able to fast-track them in that is great because the guys that get drafted are all good kicks and marks and have skills but probably the defensive side is what you need to fast track them in.”
The pair’s bond will be critical to Dew’s ability to have continuity across his list.
The senior coach will be working closely with Malceski when it comes to team selection, playing roles and positions.
“We will definitely be discussing roles and where people will be playing,” Malceski said.
Malceski briefly filled in as NEAFL coach when Steven Daniel was absent and began his full-time stint in the role with a win in Gold Coast’s preseason game against Broadbeach earlier this month.
The Suns will play QAFL premiers Palm Beach Currumbin this Saturday before playing the Brisbane Lions the week after.