David King is bullish about what Gold Coast can achieve under the leadership of Damien Hardwick.
The three-time premiership coach was unveiled as the next Suns coach on Monday, signing a six-year deal.
With their bounty of young stars, including Charlie Ballard, Wil Powell, Ben King, Jack Lukosius, Noah Anderson, Connor Budarick, Malcom Rosas, Matt Rowell, Sam Flanders, Alex Davies, Elijah Hollands, Mac Andrew and Bailey Humphrey all under the age of 24, King believes Hardwick will have them flying when they all reach their peaks.
“I think they win a flag in their third or fourth year under Damien. I think the first 12 months will be about him finding out what he’s got, finding out what the scope and the ceiling is,” King told SEN’s Whateley.
“Lukosius, Rowell, Anderson, Ballard, Powell… all these guys are 22-23. They’re not even in their prime yet, but they’ve shown enough to show they’re topliners in the competition. Even Touk Miller’s only 27.
“This year’s draft haul is huge. They’re going to get three absolute topliners come in at low cost.
“I think with Hardwick having his hands on the wheel. He will be able to attract some free agents and they will become a destination club – as opposed to the other way.
“But they will now have a system that matches the list. They’ve always had the system and they’ve always had an ‘okay’ system.
“I love this appointment … Damien Hardwick knows what it looks like, what it smells like, what the locker room should look like, responsibilities, roles, accountability, game day, inside the fence, outside the fence. He will sharpen the whole place.
“In the next two to three years I think it will be impossible to go to Heritage Bank Stadium and leave with the four points. You’ll be going up there getting sunburnt and coming home.
“I’m seriously excited about it. I think we’ve even seen under Stephen King in the last few weeks they’ve played with freedom, more pressure, more dare, more handball.
“Imagine what Hardwick can do with these guys. When he stands in front of this group, he brings an aura with him.”
The Suns have not made finals in their history and will need to beat North Melbourne in Round 24 to avoid another bottom four finish.