Gold Coast coach responds to criticism surrounding strong form of ex-players at new clubs

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has rejected suggestions the strong form of a handful of former players at new clubs is a “poor reflection” on the Suns’ ability to develop young footballers.

Will Brodie (Fremantle) and Peter Wright (Essendon) are the latest former Gold Coast players to improve significantly at new clubs.

Both were selected by the Suns in the top 10 picks of their respect drafts.

Speaking on 3AW, Dew said it wasn’t a simple equation.

“It’s not just ‘can they play’ and where they fit, there is a salary cap we are managing and we pay a little bit of a tax on players and quite often we have to pay in advance,” he said.

“I think these decisions are not just the two hours on a Saturday.

“We are managing our cap constantly, as I’m sure GWS have – being in a different market – and a lot of interstate clubs outside of Melbourne have to manage.

“Those factors come into it, no doubt.

“We are trying to sign players and keep players.

“We’d love to have kept a lot of players that leave, but so would have a lot of other teams.

“You can’t keep them all.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full interview

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)