Gold Coast’s Stuart Dew says he gained’t let the prospect of being changed by Alastair Clarkson as coach of the AFL membership occupy his ideas this 12 months.
4-time premiership mentor Clarkson has usually been linked to the new seat on the underperforming Suns since his departure from Hawthorn was confirmed mid-way via final season.
The 53-year-old is open to a training return sooner or later after taking this 12 months off. However Dew, who performed beneath Clarkson within the Hawks’ 2008 premiership staff, is unmoved by the fixed hypothesis.
He believes public backing from chairman Tony Cochrane and Suns gamers, together with star midfielder Matt Rowell, is a robust indicator about his place on the membership.
“Twelve months into my journey we decided to chop fairly deep on the record, and we knew there was gonna be some ache, however our gamers are actually conscious of the journey we’re on,” Dew informed Fox Footy.
“We’re optimistic. They appear across the locker room and the footy membership they usually see a future all collectively. It’s our membership, it’s our story to put in writing and I’m clearly a part of that, so I again myself in. I can’t management what others say however I really feel it each day after I go within the footy membership. It’s not going to infiltrate my considering. I’ve bought to remain centered for the footy membership and the gamers and that’s my intention.”
The Suns beat West Coast in Roud 1 and are aiming for 2 straight wins to start out the season for the primary time since 2018 – Dew’s first 12 months on the helm. They host premiers Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night time.
Fortunate he wasn’t KO’ed
Willie Rioli’s AFL comeback is about to be put again on maintain after the West Coast ahead was supplied a one-match suspension for his bump on Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell.
Rioli returned for the Eagles in spherical one after serving a two-year ban for doping violations and sparked an emotional celebration when he kicked a booming third-quarter aim.
However Rioli was additionally concerned in a heavy conflict with Rowell later within the time period because the Suns star reached for a mark.
Rioli left the bottom and was a fraction late to the competition, leaving Rowell sore from a collision that was graded careless conduct, medium affect and excessive contact.
Rowell was not awarded a free kick for the contact and later described it as “truthful play, good hit” in a media interview after the Suns’ 27-point victory.
However previous greats Jason Dunstall, Nick Riewoldt and Garry Lyon are among the many knowledgeable commentators who’ve referred to as for Rioli to be hit with a heavier penalty.
“It’s so fortunate that (Rowell) wasn’t KO’d,” Hawthorn champion Dunstall informed Fox Footy.
“(Rioli) doesn’t attempt to mark the ball in any respect however he jumps and the hip goes into the top. That’s harmful and I personally would’ve gone with a heavier suspension than that.”
Aliir Aliir (Picture by Dylan Burns/AFL Images through Getty Photographs)
Aliir hobbled with ankle harm
All-Australian defender Aliir Aliir is about to overlook a good portion of Port Adelaide’s season after present process syndesmosis surgical procedure.
There may be higher information for Energy teammates Trent McKenzie (knee) and Xavier Duursma (collarbone), who had been amongst these harm through the round-one defeat to Brisbane.
In line with assistant coach Nathan Bassett, McKenzie and Duursma are thought of possibilities to tackle Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night time.
However Aliir’s ankle harm and subsequent surgical procedure will doubtless sideline him for not less than two months, with Bassett hinting former Lions and SANFL defender Sam Skinner may fill the void in defence.