Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew is unfazed by talks surrounding his future as coach of the Suns.
Dew inked a contract extension midway through last season until the end of the 2024 campaign, but external pressure continues to be placed on the club as they’re yet to play finals in their 13-year history.
With some believing Dew could be replaced if the Suns fail to play in September before his contract expires, the 43-year-old was asked whether he was sick of constant speculation surrounding his position.
“No, it doesn't drive me mad,” Dew told SEN Sportsday.
“I think the more it happens, the more I'm prepared if that makes sense.
“I think you know me well, I try not to talk fluff and try to talk in an honest sense.
“Whether it's about me or mistruths about the footy club, you can't let that get in.
“You've got to remain focused and that's what I'm paid to do at the footy club to try and stay focused on our group and what's next.”
The latest coach to be linked to the Suns is three-time Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick who recently left his post at Punt Road.
Dew revealed that he jokingly texted his former Port Adelaide teammate after he stepped away from the job about his future.
“So look, I texted Damien and I said, ‘Thanks for the timing mate, I’ve just got rid of Clarko’ (laughs),” Dew said.
“He said, ‘No, no I'm not taking anyone's job, I’m going away for five years’.”
One player that’s linked to both Hardwick and Dew is Suns forward Mabior Chol who previously played for the Tigers.
After a strong first season with Gold Coast in 2022 where he kicked 44 goals from 22 games, the 26-year-old has been made to feature in the VFL for much of the 2023 season and Dew hopes he can soon return to his best.
“He played most of the year or all the year with us last year (in the AFL) I think he showed what he's capable of and then the challenge this year has been his consistency,” Dew explained.
“I'm not talking out of school, he knows his consistency of aerial work, his defensive action and I think just the way he presents up the ground (are aspects of his game to work on).
“His best is outstanding, he’s just got to bridge the gap between his best and then the efforts that let him down.
“He's in the VFL to go and work on that, but there is something pretty special there and we saw a bit of it last year.
“I think he's now starting to get to that point in his career where he's got to find that drive to bring it out.”
Dew and the Suns will look to improve to 6-6 on the season when they face the Crows at Darwin’s TIO Stadium on Saturday night.