Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew insists he isn’t feeling beneath extra strain amid the Suns’ underwhelming begin to the AFL season.
The membership threw their assist behind Dew final July after they prolonged his contract till the top of the 2024 season, eyeing a breakthrough finals look this 12 months, Dew’s sixth marketing campaign on the helm.
But the warmth is constructing after a 1-4 begin that has turned Sunday’s conflict with North Melbourne at Heritage Bank Stadium right into a must-win sport.
“I never really feel the tide (of pressure) go away, to be honest,” Dew informed Fox Footy.
“As we’ve seen, one or two weeks can take that feeling away. But that feeling only goes away for two days. Once that next game starts to come around, there’s pressure there to perform.
“I’m one in all many on this footy membership and I believe we should always all be delivering on what we need to, however I’m the face of it, so I perceive that.
“But I don’t feel under any less or more pressure depending on what’s happened. That’s the reality of elite sport.
“I’ve labored beneath John (Longmire) and I discovered lots round sustaining a stage head and generally you have to soak up that strain for different folks and that is the way in which it goes.
“That’s our job and we don’t make excuses for it but you get back to work.”
Former Suns chairman Tony Cochrane was a staunch Dew supporter however the coach was adamant he wasn’t feeling susceptible after Bob East took the function in February.
“Bob’s been on our board the whole time I’ve been here as well and I think he’s been really honest around what he’s after and what he wants to drive,” Dew stated.
“One thing I do know is Bob’s first point of call is: ‘how do we support you, how do we give you what you need, and what do you need from us?’
“If that is his start line I believe we will have an excellent relationship, as we already do.
“With change comes good pressure and we’ve just got to lean into that together.”
Dew admitted to frustration after the Suns let their spherical 5 conflict with Fremantle slip however was assured they may but flip issues round.
“We’ve just got to stay focused, stay united and not lose the plot and panic,” he stated.
“It can turn really quickly. I think we were 2-5 at a certain point last year and then we turned it (to) 6-6.
“We’ve received to ensure we hold bettering and striving for that.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
