Will Stuart Dew survive another year while the spectre of an available premiership coach looms over the Suns?
Nine journalist Caroline Wilson reported on Monday night that Gold Coast could make a move on their senior coach as soon as this month as the club looks down the barrel of another season missing the eight.
Gold Coast backed Dew 12 months ago, ultimately missing out on discussions surrounding Alastair Clarkson, Ross Lyon and Brad Scott.
Former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is now available and ready to get back into coaching and Garry Lyon believes it will be tough for the AFL to allow another veteran coach to slip through the Suns’ grasp.
“When someone of Caro’s standing puts that pressure on, that ramps up pressure on Dew, not that he wasn’t aware of it,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“I believe getting a coach of that stature in the past has been front of mind for the AFL. Now, Dew survived the last passage of speculation which was the middle of last year and they recommitted to him with Alastair Clarkson looming large.
“Whether or not they would go again with the same level of acceptance of the Gold Coast Suns rowing their own boat, I don’t know.
“I would not be surprised if they’re having a close look at it.”
Tim Watson added: “You and I have both heard independently that Damien Hardwick would be open and enticed by the prospect of being the Suns coach.”
Lyon: “Lots of people have heard that. Caro’s the first one to go with it definitively as I understand.”
Watson wonders whether the Suns – if they have indeed decided that Dew is not their man – should at least pose the question of Geelong coach Chris Scott’s availability.
“This is more of a hypothetical because he’s coaching elsewhere and coaching well and even if they’ve dropped off a little bit, they might still have a strong run home,” Watson said.
“Chris Scott. If you get to the point where you’ve made that decision on Dew, do you ask the question? I would ask the question if I was them.
“If you had those two guys then you can weigh up the difference between them and make a decision. It doesn’t have to be a public auction.
“You probably don’t even speak to Chris Scott. You go to his manager and say ‘if this was to happen’ and float it there.”
Dew and the Suns will have to ignore the speculation as they get ready to face Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.