Brisbane Lions great Jonathan Brown has urged the AFL to make strong moves in order to help the struggling Gold Coast Suns.
After a promising start to the season with three wins from their opening four games, the Suns have wilted badly by losing 12 games in a row including back-to-back 90+ point defeats to Richmond and Adelaide.
There has been constant chatter surrounding the club and what must be done to make it competitive which has prompted Brown to put forward some ideas he feels could change the fortunes of the battling Suns.
“It’s a bit of a basket case at the moment. The last two weeks, I did the game, I was there personally to see it,” Brown said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch.
“It was like watching a state league side out there. They actually would’ve battled to beat some of the stronger state league sides.
“It’s time for the AFL to do something strong. I’m sick of hearing about one priority pick or whatever. They need to pull multiple levers.
“And they need to be open and transparent with the football community. They need to come out and say, ‘Look, the Gold Coast Suns are staying. We need them to be successful for the viability of the competition.’ If you’re not gonna be open with that, say ‘Well, we’re sending them to Tasmania, whatever’.
“Clearly they want the Gold Coast Suns, so say ‘We will do everything we possibly can to make that successful or certainly be a competitive team’.
“And it’s time for the current executive and commission to show some strength of leadership that I don’t think I’ve seen from this current group. Stop worrying about club presidents, powerful club presidents in Melbourne, including Jeff Kennett and Eddie McGuire.
“Don’t let them tell you what to do. You’re an independent commission for a reason. For the good of the game, for the health of the game, Australia-wide. So pull the levers, make no apologies and say ‘We need a competitive Gold Coast Suns’.
“So we are gonna give them the first three draft picks. Why don’t you give them all of NT as a zone? Why don’t you extend the rookie contracts to three or four years? Why don’t you give them an extra million dollars in the salary cap to make it a viable option?
“Do something strong, but be open and transparent about it. They are absolutely scared of the club presidents.
“The Commission. Richard Goyder. Stand up, show some leadership! Gillon McLachlan, stand up and show some leadership. Don’t be scared, for the good of the game.
“If you want the Gold Coast Suns to succeed, do it. Otherwise send ‘em to Tasmania. You know what I mean? That’s fine. But be transparent around it and actually have a crack.”