Suns boss may hook ‘big fish’ in the future
SUNS CEO Mark Evans says Gold Coast will be prepared to chase a big fish in the next few years to add to a list stacked with some of the brightest young talents in the AFL.
Gold Coast have brought in a wealth of quality youth in recent years, boasting another strong draft haul that included top two picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson in November.
The Suns strategy under football manager Jon Haines, coach Stuart Dew and list manager Craig Cameron has been to get the best talent from the draft and recruit mature players seeking opportunities to add experience and hard bodies while they develop.
Gold Coast have locked in the bulk of their core playing group for the next three years and while they have faith some can turn into the A-grade players they don’t have, they will begin seeking out top-end talent to lure from rival clubs.
It has been speculated the Suns have had to pay huge overs to retain young draftees beyond the mandatory two years but Evans said the relatively youth of the list had given them salary cap space to look at a marquee signing.
“A big fish is certainly a possibility for us but our greatest growth will come from the young, talented players who have been our key focus,” Evans said. “But over time we will look to add players.”
Gold Coast built their initial list off superstar Gary Ablett, who spent seven years at the Queensland club with critics split on his impact at the Suns.
Ablett won a Brownlow Medal while playing what some believe to be the best football of his career in 2013 at Gold Coast and won four Suns club champion titles.