Suns rebuilding strategy

AFL club outline plans to bolster struggling club

GOLD Coast have presented their strategic vision to the AFL as part of plans to resurrect the embattled club.

Suns chief executive Mark Evans recently met league bosses to outline ways to combat the key failings that have plagued the club since their 2011 AFL debut.

These have included an unexpected salary cap squeeze, resource shortfalls, welfare and leadership problems and the club’s player retention disaster.

Evans presented a broad plan to fix the club’s shortcomings and, in particular, break the cycle of key player exits.

In addition, the Suns will lodge a submission requesting special assistance draft concessions next month, likely to include a priority pick and extra mature-age player access.

But Gold Coast have also prioritised the need to create a first-class football environment to boost their player retention rate under a new-look administration.

The Suns remain in the bottom part of the ladder in their eighth season, sparking fears about their long-term future.

Despite calls to merge the Suns with a Tasmanian team, AFL chief executive Gil McLachlan has said Gold Coast are safe.

The Suns had the youngest list in the league this season and will most likely get younger next year, following the loss of free agent Tom Lynch and possibly uncontracted veteran Michael Barlow.

But Evans told league chiefs the club was committed to recruiting the best young talent at the draft and supplementing it with mature-age recruits.

Fixing the salary cap squeeze is also a priority under new list boss Craig Cameron.

Despite the loss of superstar free agent Lynch, Gold Coast are faced with a much tighter than anticipated salary cap.

It is understood some of the club’s third-year players are on up to $400,000 a year, more than some Melbourne clubs.

“I was staggered to hear how much they were paying some players,” a rival list boss said.

The Suns’ crippling injury list has also led to a mountain of unforeseen injury payments.

A key part of the Suns’ approach is to reassess some players’ payments in accordance with their performance.

The Suns have previously felt forced to pay players “overs” to retain youngsters in the face of raids form rivals.

Former coach and now commentator Paul Roos says the club should receive as many as five extra mature-age players.