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  1. #1
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    Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Gold Coast has long been a dead mans patch for (allegedly) professional sporting clubs. The AFEL bucked the trend and went into the Gold Coast.

    The McKenna years were worse than expected.
    Their recruiting hasn't been sharp.
    The drug culture and QLD Crime Commission investigations are a stain on the game and their club.
    Many of their best players have requested out, and walked out.
    They've not made finals yet, and don't look nearly like it anytime soon.
    Membership numbers are still poor.
    Attendances are not brilliant, non unexpectedly.
    Rumours of rifts between players and coaches still hang about.
    This year they pitched money & opportunity to dozens of good players, all but one knocked them back.
    Captain, Qld AFEL Ambasador and on a huge salary Gary Ablett requested a trade out of there last month, for much less money.
    Malcheski has retired all of a sudden with a 2017 contract (yes he's had injuries, and cites them as the reason).

    We know the AFEL need an 18th licence for the TV rights deal. So we know 18 teams are here, I'm not suggesting dropping the numbers. But how many years does this need to continue before another club is looked at for the 18th licence? Such as North QLD or Northern Australia (inc. Darwin to FNQ) or Tasmania etc.

    Can this be drawn out much passed 3-5 years before change? Maybe even a merge with Brisbane to concoct another 3 peat for bandwagoners.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  2. #2
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Quote Originally Posted by bulldogtragic View Post
    Gold Coast has long been a dead mans patch for (allegedly) professional sporting clubs. The AFEL bucked the trend and went into the Gold Coast.

    The McKenna years were worse than expected.
    Their recruiting hasn't been sharp.
    The drug culture and QLD Crime Commission investigations are a stain on the game and their club.
    Many of their best players have requested out, and walked out.
    They've not made finals yet, and don't look nearly like it anytime soon.
    Membership numbers are still poor.
    Attendances are not brilliant, non unexpectedly.
    Rumours of rifts between players and coaches still hang about.
    This year they pitched money & opportunity to dozens of good players, all but one knocked them back.
    Captain, Qld AFEL Ambasador and on a huge salary Gary Ablett requested a trade out of there last month, for much less money.
    Malcheski has retired all of a sudden with a 2017 contract (yes he's had injuries, and cites them as the reason).

    We know the AFEL need an 18th licence for the TV rights deal. So we know 18 teams are here, I'm not suggesting dropping the numbers. But how many years does this need to continue before another club is looked at for the 18th licence? Such as North QLD or Northern Australia (inc. Darwin to FNQ) or Tasmania etc.

    Can this be drawn out much passed 3-5 years before change? Maybe even a merge with Brisbane to concoct another 3 peat for bandwagoners.
    That's the inevitable outcome. The Golden Brisbane Lions playing their games out of the 'Gabba.
    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

  3. #3
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Pickering has said that GAJ may ask for a trade again next year...
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  4. #4
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    If I were in charge of Gold Coast I would:

    - 'Rebuild' (can you rebuild something that has never been built? Maybe start over again?). Lynch and May are both 24 at great bookends to build a side around.

    They have picks 4, 6, 8 and 10, as well as 5 future picks within the second round next year.

    I would place an absolute premium on getting kids with good-great attitudes, even if it means sacrificing 'better' players. To make it in that culture you have to be self-disciplined.

    If a senior player who isn't committed wants to go, load up on picks

    - Only recruit senior players who are going to be great role models. Development over sneaking a win here and there. Hanley is a really bad choice in this regard IMO.

    - Dump Rocket and get a development based coach.

    The massive focus is on demand for great attitudes. Dickheads and easily influenced types are just too risky in that environment.

  5. Likes bulldogtragic, hujsh liked this post
  6. #5
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    I never understood why the Suns and other Gold Coast based teams struggled to survive until I tried to arrange to see a game at Metricon in 2015. Talk about a nightmare. The public transport is a joke and there is a 5 km exclusion zone for parking near the stadium - they have made it very difficult to get to the place. On top of that the reserved seating prices are abhorrent for a fledgling expansion team.

    Make it easy to get to the game and make the ticket prices reasonable, and the crowds will come. There are enough expat Victorians to get 20K plus every week, but not if they can't just hop in their car and park near the ground for nothing.
    Footscray member since 1980.

  7. #6
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rocco Jones View Post
    If I were in charge of Gold Coast I would:

    - 'Rebuild' (can you rebuild something that has never been built? Maybe start over again?). Lynch and May are both 24 at great bookends to build a side around.

    They have picks 4, 6, 8 and 10, as well as 5 future picks within the second round next year.

    I would place an absolute premium on getting kids with good-great attitudes, even if it means sacrificing 'better' players. To make it in that culture you have to be self-disciplined.


    If a senior player who isn't committed wants to go, load up on picks


    - Only recruit senior players who are going to be great role models. Development over sneaking a win here and there. Hanley is a really bad choice in this regard IMO.


    - Dump Rocket and get a development based coach.

    The massive focus is on demand for great attitudes. Dickheads and easily influenced types are just too risky in that environment.
    They need to revamp the recruiting team because what you have outlined is what they should have been doing from the start. They were given enough currency to recruit a great group but have fallen short.
    Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"

  8. #7
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Fold the team, then give the reigning premiers first option to pick up their choice of player/s.
    [B][COLOR="#0000CD"]Our club was born in blood and boots, not in AFL focus groups.[/COLOR][/B]

  9. #8
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Quote Originally Posted by AndrewP6 View Post
    Fold the team, then give the reigning premiers first option to pick up their choice of player/s.
    That's a bloody good idea. Get some of those players into a decent program and they could go places.
    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

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  11. #9
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Quote Originally Posted by Flamethrower View Post
    I never understood why the Suns and other Gold Coast based teams struggled to survive until I tried to arrange to see a game at Metricon in 2015. Talk about a nightmare. The public transport is a joke and there is a 5 km exclusion zone for parking near the stadium - they have made it very difficult to get to the place. On top of that the reserved seating prices are abhorrent for a fledgling expansion team.

    Make it easy to get to the game and make the ticket prices reasonable, and the crowds will come. There are enough expat Victorians to get 20K plus every week, but not if they can't just hop in their car and park near the ground for nothing.
    Yes I found it strange that you couldn't park near the ground too. Although what I did discover is a lot of the hotels offer free bus transport to and from the ground including the place where we were staying so that was a big plus.

  12. #10
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bulldog4life View Post
    Yes I found it strange that you couldn't park near the ground too. Although what I did discover is a lot of the hotels offer free bus transport to and from the ground including the place where we were staying so that was a big plus.
    So locals should stay at hotels to get to the ground?
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  13. #11
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    FIAT are no longer a major sponsor of the Suns.



    "Gold Coast Football Club and FCA Australia today confirmed that Fiat would not be extending their three year co-major partnership when it expires next week," the statement said.

    "It has been an extremely successful partnership for both parties. FCA Australia values all that the partnership has delivered and wishes the GCFC every success for the 2017 season and beyond.

    "Throughout 2016, GCFC extended their other co-major partner, HostPlus, for a further three years, as well as stadium naming rights partner Metricon Homes for a further five years, taking both partnerships beyond 10-year commitments."


    http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...29-gsdlro.html
    More of an In Bruges guy?

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  15. #12
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    That's a big loss. Losing a major sponsor means the AFEL will probably need to pick up that slack. The signs aren't great for that plastic franchise.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  16. #13
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    I thought they were looking pretty good from a list perspective until they were decimated by injury throughout the course of the last few years. It was then that their culture caught up with them and the wheels started coming off.
    Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.

  17. #14
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Bump.

    Since three years since I've asked the question, they've held up the bottom of the ladder and look to be bottom this year. Currently just 66%. They sacked another coach. Ablett quits, Lynch, Kolo & May walked out last year, Prestia, O'Meara, Saad, Matera and others in the last few years. Haven't signed Martin, Day etc. Today they've given up 103 points in the first half against Richmond.

    Just Fitzroy them already.
    Last edited by bulldogtragic; 06-07-2019 at 08:37 PM.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  18. #15
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    Re: Gold Coast Suns Viability - How Long Have They Got?

    Wasting funds that can be used elsewhere. They will never ever make it on the Gold Coast - flogging a dead horse.

    AFL just admit it you got this wrong.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

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