Established in 2009, and entering the AFL in 2011, the Gold Coast Suns are the second-youngest team in Australia’s premier Aussie Rules competition. However, the excuse of youth is beginning to wear thin for the Suns, who are yet to finish above 12th place in their seven-year history. Despite doing some good grassroots work in the Gold Coast community, and tackling issues such as domestic violence and youth homelessness, that’s about the only positive that can be said about the Suns.
With a wealth of young talent, as well as being able to lure the greatest player of his generation Gary Ablett Jnr. to the Gold Coast, the Suns have had an abysmal start to their AFL journey. Not even looking close to reaching the finals in their brief history, Ablett has now departed to return to his native Geelong, leaving the Suns in perhaps their most dire situation yet.
Although Gold Coast managed to register a meagre $20,000 profit in 2017, you would expect that the club are teetering on the brink of a major financial collapse. Not having a significant supporter-base to lean on, and with a team looking unlikely to turn the performances around, something will have to change. And gimmicks such as the failed attempt to make an AFL success story out of Karmichael Hunt will only exacerbate any problems that the Gold Coast are facing.
Young full-forward Tom Lynch emerges as the Suns’ brightest prospect going into this season. For the few Suns’ supporters, we hope that he can help to resurrect the club from its flailing infancy.
