Suns coach Stuart Dew is on the verge of signing a new deal that will keep him at Metricon Stadium until the end of the 2022 season.
Gold Coast were able to lock down the futures of several highly-rated young players over the off-season and have now expressed their desire to extend Dew's contract in the coming weeks.
"We're pretty close, yeah, I've never been a massive contract person, even as a player โ if you're playing well it will sort itself out and of the club is happy it will sort itself out," Dew toldย AFL.com.au.
"We certainly appear very close and it is down to minor details which I'm not involved in.
"I wouldn't say it's a formality, but the bulk of it is done, as I am aware. We are happy.
"I've still got this year and if we are able to get it done early and add a couple (of years) to it, well that would be fantastic.
"It probably aligns with a lot of our playing group as well. We have a firm belief this is the group, we feel we have the (right) players."
The Suns have won just the seven games under Dew across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, though with a host of high draft pick selections in Izak Rankine, Ben King and Jack Lukosius all re-signing with the club, they have put their faiths back into a more stable future.
The Suns first three captains - Gary Ablett, Tom Lynch and Steven May - have all departed the club, with Dew commending current skipper David Swallow's loyalty to the Gold Coast.
"The first one to do that (re-sign) was Dave Swallow and effectively made himself a lifer for Gold Coast," Dew said.
"On the back of that, really quickly, guys like Touk Miller, Wittsy (Jarrod Witts) and Rory Thompson followed, and then on top of that Jack Lukosius, Ben King, Izak Rankine and we're up to 25 now, and really, the players are talking with their feet.
"It's important โ we can focus on other things, and what the playing group can actually do together."
Top two draft selections Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson have had a strong start to their AFL careers under Dew's preseason, with their coach acknowledging the input the duo have put in over the off-season.
"Their thirst for hard work is so impressive," Dew said.
"Theyโve walked straight in to our top five runners. They are elite, as it stands now. They are ready to go, they have got mature bodies. They let the footy do the talking, they are not arrogant, they are humble, and the way they are handling the extra attention they are getting is very impressive too."
