Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson has significant news on two current senior AFL coaches and their futures at their respective clubs.
Wilson is firmly of the belief that Stuart Dew’s tenure at Gold Coast will soon be up, suggesting he could be gone from the club by the end of July.
Dew is contracted with the Suns until 2024, but subpar results and a lack of overall improvement will prompt the club to act at some stage in 2023, Wilson reports.
“It’s my firm belief that Stuart Dew’s days at the Gold Coast Suns are numbered,” Wilson said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“In fact, he could be gone by as early as the end of this month.
“The firm belief now at the club is that there has been no improvement this year in a year where improvement was expected.
“People around football and management are now casting big doubts on the standards within the footy club and the players.
“I’m talking more about preparation for big games, match-day 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 on 28 points. This time they were thrashed by Collingwood, they’re 12th on the ladder with the same amount of points and battling again to make the finals.”
Additionally, Wilson is again backing recently-departed Richmond coach Damien Hardwick to replace Dew at the Suns.
The three-time premiership coach stepped away from his role with the Tigers in late May, citing burnout as the overriding factor, but recently told the Dyl & Friends podcast that he expects to coach again.
Wilson has indicated that the Suns are looking at life beyond Dew.
“Stuart Dew hasn’t been told and I’m not sure where it’s standing at board level, but my firm belief is that a decision will be made within the next few weeks,” she said.
“Certainly by the end of the season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t happen by the end of July.
“My equally firm view is that Damien Hardwick will ultimately be the coach of the Gold Coast Suns and that if there is a caretaker appointed at this stage, it looks like being Steven King.
“I think Damien Hardwick softened the public up to where he’s at with coaching.
“I think he was stale at Richmond, I don’t think he was burnt out with footy.
“I do think that the week Damien Hardwick announced his shock resignation from Richmond was a very difficult week for the Gold Coast Suns and Stuart Dew.
“No one can convince me that the timing of both decisions are not linked. Certainly a lot of people believe that.”
Wilson also believes Port Adelaide will soon lock Ken Hinkley away after club chairman David Koch reiterated that they will not make a decision until at least August.
Hinkley is out of contract at the end of this season, but has the Power humming in second spot on the ladder on the back of a 12-game winning streak and as a result his stay at Alberton will be extended.
“Ken Hinkley is definitely staying,” Wilson added.
“That announcement could even come in a few weeks. It will certainly come by August which is what the club promised.
“Ken Hinkley is very comfortable at Port Adelaide and Port Adelaide are very comfortable (with Ken).”
Hinkley’s Power will be looking to extend their winning run to 13 games when they host Dew’s Suns at the Adelaide Oval this Saturday night.