Former Sun Aaron Young believes the Gold Coast Suns are finally on the right track, but concedes there are still plenty of challenges to come for the club.
Young was delisted at the end of the 2019 season after 24 games in two years following six seasons at Port Adelaide.
Speaking on SEN SA Breakfast, Young said the players have faith in the direction of the club.
“I was only there for two years but I saw significant improvement in the way that blokes wanted to work and some of the people who had come into the club,” he said.
“Stuart Dew is good, he’s up and coming. He places lots of emphasis on on-field leadership and things like that.
“The club’s been really well led by Dave Swallow and Jarrod Witts the last few years.”
The 27-year old said that although the club has increased retention of young players, it’ll always be a threat.
“It’s always going to be tough in Queensland to compete with some of the Victorian clubs and keep the star young players that they have,” he said.
Young added the decision by the club not to re-sign him didn’t come as a huge surprise after he endured an injury-plagued season, but he would jump at an opportunity to play again.
“You see the writing on the wall a little bit throughout the trade period and once you remain uncontracted through that period you probably start to plan for things to go south,” he said.
“You never know these days really with the mid-season draft but at the moment it does seem that way (my AFL career is finished) but if there was another opportunity to go again, I’d jump at it with two hands.
“I’ve had a pretty solid career, 100 games over 8 years so I leave pretty happy with what I’ve been able to achieve.”
Young was selected with Pick 36 in the 2010 National Draft. He will remain in Queensland and play for Aspley in the NEAFL in 2020.
Listen to Young's chat on SEN SA Breakfast below