Stuart Dew sacked, next Suns coach must ‘close gap’

Murray Wenzel | July 12, 2023

Gold Coast have paved the way for Damien Hardwick’s arrival by sacking Stuart Dew, saying there was a “clear gap” between expectations and results at the AFL club.

Dew, in his sixth season, was dumped with 18 months remaining on his contract in a unanimous board decision on Monday night.

His removal came six days after he received the public backing of chief executive Mark Evans, who also denied the club had reached out to Richmond’s recently departed, three-time premiership winner Hardwick.

On Tuesday, Evans and newly installed Suns chairman Bob East insisted they still hadn’t contacted Hardwick, but that Dew was not the club’s long-term solution.

“There is a clear gap between where we currently sit and where our expectations lie,” East said.

“The senior coach selection process will be solely designed to close that gap.

“It’s crystal clear to us that this decision was a necessary decision.”

Gold Coast, who will finish the season with assistant Steven King in charge, appear destined for a 13th-straight campaign without a finals appearance.

They sit 7-9 after back-to-back humblings against top-two sides Collingwood and Port Adelaide.

But club bosses said that fortnight did not cost Dew, pointing to a season that has also featured an untimely flogging at the hands of Carlton after the Suns entered the bye with a 6-6 record.

Australian Football Hall of Famer Malcolm Blight, a former Suns board member and football director, said the club “were bloody handcuffed from the start” by poor facilities and fewer draft picks than rival start-up GWS.

But he said the club’s list and upgraded headquarters were ready for the arrival of a coach with Hardwick’s CV.

“Damien would be sensational for it, if they can get hold of him,” he told SEN.

“They’re right in the window, they’re there, waiting to go; it just hasn’t happened for them.”

Evans said last week’s pledge of support was made in an attempt to stabilise Dew’s position following intense public speculation, but that the situation changed when the board met on Monday.

“This time last year we were better placed in terms of wins and particularly in percentage, so it feels like there is a gap between us and the rest of the competition,” he said.

The Suns remain just one win and percentage outside the top eight but, with a tough run home, are still likely to need six wins from seven rounds to earn a maiden finals berth.

“We’ve got a great list … some experts in our football department, and we’ll need a new senior coach to actually go to the (desired) level,” Evans said.

Dew was appointed Gold Coast’s third full-time coach in 2018, following Guy McKenna and Rodney Eade’s stints with the club that entered the AFL in 2011.

Hardwick left his post with the Tigers in May but has indicated he’s interested in a comeback, while Port coach Ken Hinkley remains off-contract beyond this season.