Season 2022 shapes as a monumentally important year for the Gold Coast Suns, who have still never tasted post-season action even after 11 years of AFL assistance, as their prolonged state of mediocrity continues to ignite Tasmania relocation talks and results in the exits of young talent to rival teams.
Furthermore, out-of-contract senior coach Stuart Dew is once again in the hot seat, preparing to enter a make-or-break campaign that will either see him back at the helm again in 12 months' time or out of a job.
Over the course of the off-season, the Suns were praised for nabbing generational talent Mac Andrew at last November's draft, as well as luring free agent Mabior Chol and delisted free agents Charlie Constable and Levi Casboult to Carrara.
However, the club was lambasted for its handling of the Hugh Greenwood situation, which resulted in the hard-nosed midfielder's departure to Arden Street to play for North Melbourne. It was a questionable sequence of events to say the least, yet unsurprising, given these decisions were made by the same people who sent now-Lions midfielder Jarryd Lyons packing at the end of 2018.
The entire nation - yes, especially Tasmania - will have a close eye on the Suns in 2022 as they prepare to tee-off on their 12th campaign and fifth under the guidance of Dew.
Off-Season Moves
Ins: Mac Andrew (National Draft), Sandy Brock (Academy), Levi Casboult (Rookie Draft, Carlton), Mabior Cholย (Richmond), Charlie Constableย (Geelong), James Tsitas (Supplemental Selection Period), Bodhi Uwland (Academy).
Outs: Will Brodieย (Fremantle),ย Aiden Fyfeย (delisted),ย Hugh Greenwoodย (North Melbourne),ย Jarrod Harbrowย (retired),ย Jack Hombschย (retired),ย Jordan Murdochย (retired),ย Zac Smith (retired),ย Luke Toweyย (delisted),ย Jacob Townsend (delisted).
Defining Period
Whenever it seems as if the Suns are trending in the right direction and are stringing together competitive efforts, they tend to let themselves down during the middle-to-late portions of the season, having lapses in effort and concentration, leading to morale-crushing blowout losses and an uncompetitive final month of the season.
If things are to truly change in 2022, the Suns need to remain physically and mentally committed throughout not just patches, but the entirety of the season if they're any chance of challenging for a maiden finals berth.
In 2022, the Suns have an enormous opportunity; one that Dew's men just have to capitalise on.
Of their final 12 match-ups of the upcoming season, eight of them come against teams that did not play finals footy in 2021, including two games against Hawthorn and two against North Melbourne.
Gold Coast has a genuine chance of coming home with a wet sail and truly competing for a top-eight spot at the business end of the season.
