Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has turned heads after claiming she expects the Gold Coast Suns to part ways with senior coach Stuart Dew at the conclusion of this season.
Wilson spoke onย Footy Classifiedย about the AFL's frustrations with the Suns, and how the fourth-year coach could take the fall if the league decides to take matters into its own hands.
"I just want to touch on what I think will be another vacant coaching position by the end of the year, not for certain, but very likely, and that is Stuart Dew at the Gold Coast Suns," Wilson said.
"I've got a very strong view that Mark Evans needs to act in the next three to four weeks and if he doesn't, I think the AFL will overshoot him and do it for him because I think there are people at the AFL who are starting to really agitate Gillon McLachlan about this problem.
"He's had four years and he's finished 17th, 18th, 14th and where they sit right now is 15th ... real concern about players who might leave, they are six figures under the soft cap, they're not paying nearly enough, and Dew just seems to be burning through a lot of assistant coaches for mine.
"I've got a very strong view that Mark Evans needs to act in the next 3-4 weeks, and if doesn't, I think the AFL will do it for him."
Caroline Wilson on the Gold Coast coaching situation.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/NoIes49Syi
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 18, 2021
"I think the head of football Jon Haines is not strong enough to be in that role, I hate to be brutal, but that's just the fact of life."
As has been a familiar occurrence in recent years, the Suns currently sit in the bottom four on the AFL ladder and have once again failed to make a big leap under Dew.
Wilson detailed a list of names worth the Suns' consideration for senior positions, other than merely the head coaching role, who could assist a Gold Coast revitalisation.
"And there's a few things I think the AFL could do, leaving Ross Lyon out of it for the moment, but here's a few people I think they should be looking at," she said.
"They could do a lot worse than get Andrew Ireland if he doesn't stay at the Swans to become an executive chairman, a pioneer of footy in Queensland and New South Wales, ditto Brian Cook who has won premierships as CEO at two football clubs on opposite sides of the country and will be available.
"Graeme Allan, he's served his penance, and we know what a brilliant job he did with the Brisbane Lions and GWS with their list, he knows how to run a footy club in a foreign territory.
"Brad Scott, I still believe is open to coaching or being a footy boss, if not at the AFL, maybe at the Suns or in fact to coach the Suns next year and Chris Scott's name just does not go away. Maybe not next year, but maybe the year after.
"These are all people who understand footy in foreign territories."
Dew is contracted until the end of next season, but if Wilson's speculations prove to be accurate he may not see out his deal in Carrara.
