News Coaching Thread: The Hardwick Era

Remove this Banner Ad

Gold Coast will officially unveil Damien Hardwick as its coach as early as next week, with key Suns staffers Steven King and Wayne Campbell both set to stay on under the three-time premiership coach.
This masthead understands the Suns have secured Hardwick’s commitment that he will coach the club on a five-year deal.

The Suns will postpone that official announcement until Hardwick can appear in person, with the ex-Richmond senior coach returning from his European holiday next week.

They are keen for him to be present on the Gold Coast for the announcement, which will come either in the days before round 24 or in the week of the pre-finals bye.

Geelong premiership player, and former Bulldogs assistant, King is contracted and keen to stay with the Suns, having made a strong impression as interim coach.

He has senior ambitions to coach his own team at some stage but some time under Hardwick will only further his coaching resume.

King has been aware of the Hardwick developments during his five-match coaching stint, which ends with games against Carlton and North Melbourne.

Campbell will also remain at the club as its head of football, despite Brisbane football boss Danny Daly being linked to the club as a potential replacement.

Hardwick will sign a five-year contract that will leave the club financial space to retain its strong list of coaches and development staff, which include ex-Roos senior coach Rhyce Shaw as development boss.

While Hardwick will clearly have a significant say in the make-up of his football department, the Suns believe they are well-staffed and ready to take the next step as 2024 finalists.

There is cap space and flexibility to secure Richmond star Dustin Martin, but he has indicated he wants to remain at the Tigers and play his 300th game next year.

The Suns are keen to re-sign young midfielder Sam Flanders but will likely listen to offers for No.7 draft Elijah Hollands, who has played just nine senior games this year.

The Suns have not asked the AFL for any extra ambassadorial funds for Hardwick, who was paid a chunk of his remaining salary at the Tigers this year due to long service and holiday provisions.

The league’s view is that it will never subsidise clubs in their quest to play coaches given the tight football department cap.

But the league would not stop the Suns from acquiring some ambassadorial funds from AFL Queensland’s budget if Hardwick is keen to play a role marketing football in the state.


On Monday, AFL recruiters were still raving about the club’s trio of academy selections in the upcoming draft, including power forward Jed Walter.

Some clubs would have Walter as the first pick in the national draft, given his exceptional competitiveness and aggression as a key forward in a market where many clubs are chasing power forwards.

The Suns will also secure academy ruckman Ethan Read and 172cm midfielder Jake Rogers, likened to Dion Prestia and Touk Miller for his hard-running busy style.

Gold Coast will likely trade out its No.4 overall draft pick given it would be swallowed up with points needed for that trio, so it has a superb draft hand and has finally arrested its salary cap crisis.

It shapes as a list full of potential and talent for Hardwick, with the Suns confident Ben King will re-sign past 2024 over the summer, potentially on a two-year deal which would get him through to free agency.
Click to expand...
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Jen2310 said:
Will be interesting if he brings over the richmond old game style. Based on pressure, run and gun.
Click to expand...
He should mould the plan around players list, IMO. Suns are top 4-5 in contest, clearances, usually pretty good in pressure too. That's a good base.

I am actually more interested what assistant coaches if any he will bring in. People rave about Steven King but I feel he did ordinary job with midfield. Next year Rowell, Anderson entering year 5, Miller, Humphrey 2nd year, looks like Flanders is in, Davies hopefully improves too - we should start dominating in the middle and not disappear for 1-2 quarters like we did this year. Hopefully, Moyle can assist Witts who looked exhausted in half of games.
 
Last edited:
I reckon he'd be very excited to see what mac Andrew is becoming this year. Disappointing it looks as though hollands will be a bust but our young recruits of recent years are top shelf. Still need to add a bit of outside run and some elite kicks but the core is there, I think dimma would be very optimistic about what he has to work with.
 
Southern Sun said:
I reckon he'd be very excited to see what mac Andrew is becoming this year. Disappointing it looks as though hollands will be a bust but our young recruits of recent years are top shelf. Still need to add a bit of outside run and some elite kicks but the core is there, I think dimma would be very optimistic about what he has to work with.
Click to expand...
Honestly, I am disappointed with Hollands. He could learn from his brother. Not sure what he was doing there on weekend. Often lack of effort. Maybe he already checked out. We always had to sort out all that top talent who came in. Humprey looks top quality. A full pre-season should do wonders to him. Just hoping Davies will progress next year.
 
Jirik13 said:
Honestly, I am disappointed with Hollands. He could learn from his brother. Not sure what he was doing there on weekend. Often lack of effort. Maybe he already checked out. We always had to sort out all that top talent who came in. Humprey looks top quality. A full pre-season should do wonders to him. Just hoping Davies will progress next year.
Click to expand...
There are several young mid's on the the list (excluding Rowell and Anderson) - Davies, Flanders, Hollands, Humpa.

Then Rogers comes in next season (and maybe Will Graham?). Then Lombard the year after. Then some or all of Murray/Patterson/Addinsall the year after.

There simply isn't room for all these guys to reach their potential. Maybe it's the smart move trading Hollands while under contract.

Having too many good players is a good problem to have, but folk have to be ready for some to leave.
 
Maybe Tomorrow said:
There are several young mid's on the the list (excluding Rowell and Anderson) - Davies, Flanders, Hollands, Humpa.

Then Rogers comes in next season (and maybe Will Graham?). Then Lombard the year after. Then some or all of Murray/Patterson/Addinsall the year after.

There simply isn't room for all these guys to reach their potential. Maybe it's the smart move trading Hollands while under contract.

Having too many good players is a good problem to have, but folk have to be ready for some to leave.
Click to expand...
Shame about Hollands. I hoped he could be moulded into a bit of an impact forward/mid after his first few games, but we seem obsessed with the idea of a winger. I fear he may not reach his potential on our list the way he is used.
 
KaySwizzle said:
Shame about Hollands. I hoped he could be moulded into a bit of an impact forward/mid after his first few games, but we seem obsessed with the idea of a winger. I fear he may not reach his potential on our list the way he is used.
Click to expand...
Humpa looks to have gone past him too in that role. He could be anything in a couple of years.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Jirik13 said:
Honestly, I am disappointed with Hollands. He could learn from his brother. Not sure what he was doing there on weekend. Often lack of effort. Maybe he already checked out. We always had to sort out all that top talent who came in. Humprey looks top quality. A full pre-season should do wonders to him. Just hoping Davies will progress next year.
Click to expand...

I am hoping Davies progresses into the Hugh Greenwood role Rowell is currently playing and then frees Rowell up to play his more natural game instead of getting smashed up under the rucks tap down
 
Enjoy Dimma boys.

A few tips. His favourite strain is Northern Lights & OG Kush, he likes his ladies younger & just make sure you never feed him after midnight, no matter how bad his munchies are
 
RJK Tiger said:
Enjoy Dimma boys.

A few tips. His favourite strain is Northern Lights & OG Kush, he likes his ladies younger & just make sure you never feed him after midnight, no matter how bad his munchies are
Click to expand...
Maybe that’s the formula for premierships instead of 15th?
 

Remove this Banner Ad

News Coaching Thread: The Hardwick Era

Similar threads

GC2015
  • Poll
Opinion IF Hardwick is our next senior coach...
2
Replies
26
Views
3K
Maybe Tomorrow
Maybe Tomorrow
Jen2310
Coaches Votes 2024.
Replies
5
Views
744
Jen2310
Jen2310
Big Red Machine
Game Day Round 3 & 14 - vs The Bye (Catch All Chat Thread)
2 3
Replies
69
Views
4K
SandyToes
SandyToes
T
2023 AFL coaches votes
2 3
Replies
50
Views
4K
RowellAnderson12
RowellAnderson12
Jen2310
Training Pre-season 2024 - Hump Daddy #19 Hype Thread! Dawn of Dimma
13 14 15 16 17
Replies
420
Views
37K
Southern Sun
S
The Dr
Podcast Historic AFL podcast: The birth of the Gold Coast Suns
Replies
0
Views
268
The Dr
The Dr
CanYouFeelTheSunburn
Toast Welcome to the SUNS, Daniel Rioli
Replies
20
Views
943
GC2015
GC2015

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top