The Gold Coast Suns are an interesting topic when discussing whether or not they've been worth the introduction to the League back in 2011.
One of the AFL's more recent expansion clubs the Suns, have been somewhat disappointing, with the team yet to make finals in their short history.
However, they have shown plenty in 2022 and look like they could be finals bound, with a lot of positives coming from Gold Coast in recent time.
Improvement coming across the board including the players, the Suns are starting to build, but questions are still raised in regards to whether or not they're the real deal.
Although it looks good at the moment, the turmoil faced by the club has been recognised by all and should be acknowledged as they vie for September action.
Current Suns coach Stewart Dew is the third in the club's history, following the unsuccessful tenures of Guy McKenna and Rodney Eade.
The club's highest ladder position since its inception was 12th in 2014, where they won 10 games and were poised to make finals, but unfortunately lost the last four games.
In 2018, Dew took the reigns in hope that the AFL's baby would make a dramatic leap forward like the Giants did and create history by playing in September.
However, it has been a rocky start for the Suns, who received their first wooden spoon in 2019. By contrast, fellow expansion-club GWS made the grand final the same year.
Since Dew took over, they lost key players to rival clubs, including captains Steven May (Melbourne), Tom Lynch (Richmond) and Gary Ablett (Geelong), as Gold Coast looked to be on its knees.
A COVID-19-ravaged season in 2020 did see some improvement, with the Suns not feeling the impact as much as the Victorian sides who were forced into isolation hubs.
However, the following year was disappointing, with more questions than answers facing the club and whether or not Dew was the man for the job.
Aside from 2020, since the appointment of the premiership player as head coach, the side has consistently been more competitive, as per the points for/against percentage. In 2018, the Suns were beaten extensively by their opponents, but that gap is narrowing, with Gold Coast being in more games for longer.
Of their 2022 matches, the club has beaten genuine contenders Sydney and Fremantle convincingly, while only going down to the reigning premiers by 13 points.
They currently sit 12th on the ladder.
So, is this trend going to see the Suns make the finals? Or is this just another hopeful, yet unrealistic prayer?
Let's find out.
Building Foundations
Despite the Suns losing key players over their time, the last few years has seen the emergence of some important pillars to the future success of the club.
Picks number 1 and 2 in 2019 draft saw Gold Coast land best mates Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, as they joined Jarrod Witts and Touk Miller in the midfield. They managed to also pry Richmond premiership player Brandon Ellis from Punt Road.
The year prior, they also picked up Jack Lukosius (pick two), Izak Rankine (three), Ben King (six) and defender Sam Collins.
In 2021, the Suns lured exciting young talent Mac Andrew with pick five and was able to extend his stay before playing an AFL game.
Alongside these young stars, Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult were brought across to add some much needed experience, who have they shown they are up to the level.
Additionally, Dew has players such as Ben Ainsworth, Brayden Fiorini, Jack Bowes, Lachie Weller and Charlie Ballard at his disposal, who have shown are up to the level.
The issue in the past has been Gold Coast's ability to retain players and build a strong core, however this bunch looks set to buck the trend.
With a lot of them finding their feet at the elite level and becoming more and more confident each week, there is still tremendous upside.
The Suns are one of the youngest teams in the competition, at an average of 23.9 years of age (15th) while they sit around 52 games experience (17th).
Gold Coast still require some more time and experience under their belt before staking claims that they should be well within finals contention.
In comparison, reigning premiers Melbourne sit roughly in the front third, with 71 games experience (6th) and 24.5 years of age (8th).
History repeating?
Gold Coast have formed a similar path to teams this century, with the Hawks (2004-2007) and Demons (2013-2018) facing similar bouts of failure in terms of finals appearances and premierships before becoming history breaking sides.
Hawthorn (2004-2008)
Hawthorn were down and out in 2004 and surprisingly appointed Alastair Clarkson for the beginning of 2005. They went to the draft and recruited some immense talent, including Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis.
However, Clarkson's first year at the helm saw the Hawks finish 14th, but their percentage had increased by 12 per cent from the previous season, indicating a higher level of competitiveness.
2006 saw them move to 11th with 85.7 per cent and then dramatically shot up the ladder the following season, finishing 5th and boasting 113 per cent.
In 2008, they shocked the Cats in the grand final, who lost only one match the entire year, to become premiership heroes.
However, prior to Clarko's signing, the Hawks had started to develop a strong core group of young players, led by pick one Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.
Melbourne (2013-2018)
Melbourne faced a difficult and longer path, which dates back to 2007.
Although, the signing of premiership coach Paul Roos breathed fresh air into the Demons, as hope was restored in the club's direction.
Roos essentially bottomed-out with Melbourne his first two years, coming 17th in both and being destroyed in regards to percentage (54 and 68 per cent).
2015 and 2016 saw improvement and the emergence of Max Gawn as well as Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, as the Dees rose up the ladder to 11th.
Simon Goodwin took over the following year and saw Melbourne just miss finals, coming 9th but possessing a healthy percentage of 105.
2018, the side came 5th and lost a preliminary final to eventual premiers West Coast.
As a rule, there are good things for those wait and being Dew's fifth season in charge, the Suns might be on the verge of history.
How to continue the trend?
Retention
Over the past 10 years, Gold Coast has acquired some impressive talent through trades and the draft, but by that same token, they've also lost players of a high calibre along the way.
The coaching panel and board must then make the sunshine state a place where players want to come, where players want to stay and ultimately, commit to the club long-term.
So far the Suns have King (2024), Bowes (2024), Chol (2025), Andrew (2025), Miller (2027), Collins (2025), Powell (2025), Witts (2024), Ellis (2024) and Ballard (2025) signed on to the club.
However, players like Rankine, Lukosius, Davies, Weller and Casboult are another group who come out of contract at season's end and are needed as the list rebuilds.
Improvement
Aside from retention, the continual improvement of the young, core group is paramount if the Suns are to make history in this season or the next.
This improvement will come from consistent coaching and experience in games and at the club. We've already seen dramatic development in Anderson and King since they joined the club as well as others.
It is always going to be a matter of time before these types of players start to take the game by storm, with experience under their belt and more footy knowledge and skill from the years gone by.
According to the stats, the Suns are improving under direction from Dew, with the club deemed more competitive according to a key statistic: points for versus against.
Gold Coast have gone from 59.9 per cent in 2018 to currently sitting at 95.2 per cent and starting to see some reward after a tumultuous run.
Recruiting
To enhance your list and speed up the time on progression, recruiting is usually the way to go, bringing in already-made and experienced players to the side to help further the team's advancement.
Chol and Casboult are two excellent examples that have provided a lot of upside for the team, as both are key forward options with the ability to play second ruck to Witts.
The Gold Coast list manager and team should start to heavily target players that are ripe for the picking, with experience under their belt and entering the prime age bracket in their careers.
Brisbane's Daniel McStay would be an interesting prospect, with the 26-year-old yet to sign on with the Lions. Almost third fiddle to a fit Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, McStay would slot in nicely at the Suns, playing as a swingman on both ends of the field.
Magpie Jordan De Goey also seems like a good match, with the dynamic player being able to go up forward and in the middle. Although he's had some off-field trouble over the years, a move away from Melbourne could suit both parties.
Karl Amon from Port Adelaide also poses as an option the Suns could have a crack at. Amon is a restricted free agent and is yet to sign with the Power, with speculation growing he may want a change in scenery. The 26-year-old winger is the perfect fit for Gold Coast, hitting all criteria for a player they need.
Bobby Hill is another player who may seek a change, with the small forward requesting a trade at the end of 2021 and looks set to do the same. Hill's forward presence would complement the current talls and provide competition for spots.
