Sacked Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew is understood to be on the radar of the Western Bulldogs as a potential assistant coach acquisition as the club braces for "some big changes" to its football department this off-season.
The Bulldogs have already confirmed the departure of long-serving assistant and club great Rohan Smith, with the two parties going their separate ways despite senior coach Luke Beveridge reportedly keen on keeping his backline coach.
Opposition analysis coach Marc Webb has also left the Kennel after the Dogs' disappointing 2023 campaign under Beveridge.
Further changes are anticipated to come after the Bulldogs fell short of a finals finish, recording 12 wins and 11 losses in Beveridge's ninth season at the helm.
The Dogs are now set to look toward acquiring a wealth of senior assistant coaches to support Beveridge for 2024, with Dew's name reportedly among the list of candidates, according to Footy Classified's Caroline Wilson.
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While tensions are high at Whitten Oval, Beveridge has gained support from club figures Luke Darcy, Ameet Bains and Chris Grant in recent weeks amid questions over his coaching future, with the premiership mentor signed until the end of 2025 after recommitting to the club late last year.
The situation is reportedly set to lead to sweeping change around Beveridge as the club looks to build their senior coach a strong support network.
"There's no doubt there is genuine unease around the position of senior coach Luke Beveridge, but he's been backed now by the footy manager, the head of footy, the football director and [CEO] Ameet Bains," Wilson said on Monday night.
"There's a lot of tension, I think, between management and Luke Beveridge. There are protections I gather in Luke Beveridge's contract that would mean if he were to go at some point next year that it's not necessarily a two-year payout.
"... two senior assistants have now left, one of which we know the club wanted to keep. I gather there'll be more to go.
"The club has a long list of senior assistant candidates they're going to bring in to bolster Luke Beveridge. Stuart Dew is one of those names.
"So there's going to be some big changes to the football department, more than we've already seen."
Dew was sacked by the Suns midway through his sixth season at Carrara, with the Gold Coast board coming to the decision to part ways with the Hawthorn and Port Adelaide premiership player in July.
The Suns managed a record of 36 wins, one draw and 84 losses under Dew, who followed in the footsteps of ex-coaches Guy McKenna and Rodney Eade in failing to secure a top-eight finish with the Queensland club.
Dew's former Power teammate and triple premiership Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has since been appointed as the Suns' new coach, signing a six-year deal earlier this month.
