Gold Coast Suns crucified over 'shameful' treatment of Stuart Dew
The actions of the AFL club are coming under fire after the circumstances around the axing of coach Stuart Dew.
The AFL world has blasted the board of the Gold Coast Suns over the sacking of former head coach Stuart Dew. The coach's five-and-a-half season stint at Gold Coast officially came to an end on Tuesday as the Suns made the call to axe him with one year remaining on his contract.
Tuesday's bombshell came just six days after Suns chief executive Mark Evans threw his and the board's backing behind the under-fire coach. Dew's position had been under intense scrutiny with veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson last week saying his coaching days were numbered and that former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had been lined up as a successor.
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Dew hit back at what he described as the “unfounded” claims made by Wilson, whose reports that his time at Gold Coast were coming to an end were ultimately right on the money. Evans offered a qualified defence of the under-fire coach following Gold Coast's 78-point loss to top-of-the-table Collingwood on July 1. He also denied any approach had been made to Hardwick following the former Tigers coach's exit from Punt Rd in May.
"I've said time and time again, Stuey's our coach, contracted for this year and next year. If he does a good job, he'll be contracted well into the future," Evans said at the time. "All I can say is that he's got my support to get on with the job, manage our players and staff as well as we can."
Fast forward a little over a week and Dew finds himself without a job, with the club's latest defeat against second-placed Port Adelaide his final game in charge. The treatment of Dew has sparked backlash across the AFL world, with many accusing the Suns board of misleading the former coach, amid reports about growing discontent at the club.
AFL world slams Suns over Stuart Dew axing
Broadcaster Gerard Whateley was among those to suggest Dew had been hung out to dry by the club. “The reporting a week ago with all of its detail around what was happening politically at the Gold Coast Suns was right,” Whateley said on SEN radio.
“I feel for Stuart Dew that he appeared oblivious to that before it was in the public domain and then was left by the club to fight the fight for a week before ultimately being sacked. I don’t think that’s the way, don’t leave a man fighting for his job publicly that is already lost, don’t do that.
“There’s a level of dignity to the person you’re seeing out the door and I think they’ve failed on that front.” His criticism was echoed across the AFL community, with many describing the Gold Coast board's treatment of the coach as "shameful" and "appalling".
The Gold Coast Suns board should be booted after the treatment shown to Stuart Dew. Absolutely Shameful.
Listened to their CEO and his explanation. There is a right way and a wrong way,you got it totally Wrong.— Peter Ronald Smith (@kildonanharness) July 11, 2023
Suns board should feel ashamed by the way they've managed this whole thing. Yeah, it's time for a change, but the way this has been managed is honestly appalling and Dew deserved better.
— dadmiral hackett (@rennemiles) July 11, 2023
I know a lot of people dislike Caro, but when you're right, you're right. And the Suns look even more silly than ever. The ol' 'full support of the board' line. Shambles.
Wonder what Dew's next move is. What say you, Hawks fans - want him back at the club?https://t.co/WkoaU8DZLK— Hawk Talk Podcast (@HawkTalkPod) July 10, 2023
Disgraceful. You have showed no integrity, professing in one breath that Dew will fulfil his contract at the club, then moving on him after losses to first & second on the ladder.
Given the strength of the VFL side, i reckon you were only a season away. Should have held firm!— James (@AUS_politics_) July 11, 2023
@GoldCoastSUNS hierarchy you have just lost a membership... Disgraceful handling of Stewy Dew...#pathetic
— Brett 'doc' Nathan Margerison (@thebretto) July 10, 2023
Suns move paves the way for Damien Hardwick approach
On Tuesday Evans and newly-installed chairman Bob East insisted they still hadn't contacted Hardwick, but explained that Dew was not the Suns' 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.
The Suns remain just one win and percentage outside the top eight but, with a tough run home, still likely need six wins from seven rounds to earn a maiden finals berth. "Once we've identified that Stuey wasn't going to be the ongoing coach for us, the best thing to do was to deal with it immediately," Evans said.
"We think we've got a great list .... some experts in our football department and we think that we'll need a new senior coach to actually go to the (desired) level." Dew's exit paves the way for a potential Suns move for three-time premiership coach Hardwick, who left his post in May but has indicated he's interested in a comeback.
However, East is adamant the club will wait for Evans to frame the "next steps" to replace Dew, before reaching out to Hardwick. "No. I want to deal with this bit properly," he said.
with AAP
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