Stuart Dew hits back at Caroline Wilson as Suns fume over report
As the Suns risk dropping out of the finals race, head coach Stuart Dew has angrily rejected suggestions he is on the outer.
Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew has lashed out at reports from veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson that his position is at risk, claiming players have been left 'filthy' over reports they want him out of the club. The former Hawthorn champion vigorously hit back at suggestions players had been calling for his sacking after Wilson reported the club would be interested in luring Damien Hardwick out of retirement for the 2024 season.
The Suns are currently 12th on the ladder, at the bottom end of a logjam of teams from 7th to 12 sitting on either seven or eight wins - meaning a debut finals appearance remains a distant possibility for the Queensland club. Dew future at the club has been a talking point for the Suns this season, despite having signed him to an extension in the middle of the 2022 season.
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Wilson told Channel 9's Footy Classified on Monday night that Dew's 'days are numbered' as Suns coach, as the club continues to only flirt with the top eight at best. After joining the AFL competition in 2011, the Suns are yet to play a single final, whereas expansion rivals the GWS Giants have made several finals runs, including a grand final tilt in 2019.
While pressure will no doubt remain on Dew to finally bring the Suns into premiership contention, the club has moved to assure him of his position. The Herald Sun's Mark Robinson said Suns chairman Bob East had contacted Dew to directly refute suggestions he would be on his way out.
“The chairman of the Suns, Bob East, he’s on holidays in Vietnam and he sent a text to Dew just saying, you know, get on with it and you’ll be fine,” Robinson said. “Dew - he was angry.
"And he’s not alone. He told me that the players, to quote his word, are filthy.
“A lot of the players wanted to speak out today. They wanted to contact media and say no, no, no, Stuart Dew’s our man.
"A lot of us have signed on at the club because Stuart Dew was reappointed. Dew said no, don’t worry about it.
“But he’s not happy. He thinks Wilson’s been running a vendetta against him for 18 months, trying to push (Alastair) Clarkson into that job last year, now it’s Damien Hardwick. As soon as Damien Hardwick left the Tigers it was, you know, Damien Hardwick to the Suns."
"It's my firm belief that Stuart Dew's days at the Gold Coast Suns are numbered"
Caroline Wilson believes the Suns have 'lost faith' in their coach, with Damien Hardwick looming large as Dew's likely replacement for 2024.#9FootyClassified | @9Gem pic.twitter.com/dawH7ARhpk— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) July 3, 2023
Dew himself has gone on record saying he believes there has been a long-running campaign to unseat him from his position as coach of the Suns. He claimed Wilson specifically had 'six or seven times' reported that conversations were happening behind the scenes to remove him.
“Last year, (Alastair) Clarkson’s got my job, then he’s got Essendon’s job, Carlton’s job,” Dew said.
“In the past 18 months she’s gone six or seven times about me and not once has she bothered to pick up the phone to me. She just doesn’t care about the person.”
Gold Coast 'filthy' over Caroline Wilson comments
Pressure has been placed on the Suns after last round's 120-42 shellacking at the hands of Collingwood, with finals once again at risk of slipping out of reach. Their task won't be any easier this weekend, when they face ladder leaders Port Adelaide.
Wilson had said earlier in the week that the loss to the Magpies was a major flashpoint, citing concerns about the coaching staff's preparation for the crucial game.
“People around football and management are now casting big doubts on the standards within the footy club and the players and I’m talking more about preparation for big games," she said. "Matchday preparation and strategy from the coaching panel, when it comes to coping with those big games.
“Clearly a massive disappointment in a game against Collingwood, a game that was sold out, a game in which Gold Coast was expected to be at least competitive. This time last year, they lost to Collingwood by less than a goal and sat 11th on the ladder.
"This time, they were thrashed by Collingwood, they’re 12 on the ladder with the same amount of points and battling again to make the finals.”
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