Dew sees red over late goals

GOLD Coast have been practising their footballing version of the bush telegraph this week as they seek ways to address the flood of scoring against them in red time.

The AFL’s new restrictions on the use of runners is clearly having an impact on the competition’s youngest list, as coach Stuart Dew and his panel struggle to get the message to inexperienced players about activating defensive changes to the game plan late in quarters.

Figures from the league’s official statisticians Champion Data show their points differentials in time on, after the 20minute mark of a quarter, is one of the worst in the league.

The Sydney Showground Stadium has become a graveyard for the Suns with an average losing margin of 100 points over their past three visits – including the 108-point hammering in Round 12 last season.

Gold Coast’s points differential in time on is -80, the third worst in the league, and Dew knows restricting the rampant Giants’ scoring late in quarters is crucial to remaining competitive today.

Close losses against St Kilda and Melbourne both featured late goals which cost victory.

“When you are looking at games that you are losing by not much, that’s an issue and it is certainly something we are trying to address,’’ Dew said.

“We are trying to get the guys used to carrying that message out, how long to go, how do we want to move it?

“It only takes one or two to not get that message.’’

Dew revealed the Suns ran drills based purely on communicating a change in the plan and activating it in matchsimulated exercises this week.

“We actually did some exercises at training which were quite interesting,’’ he said.

“We tried to get them to spread the word without everyone knowing what was happening, we told a couple and see how quickly they can tell the rest.’’