Damien Hardwick is making an immediate impact at the Gold Coast Suns, according to key position forward Jack Lukosius.
The long-kicking goalscorer spoke glowingly of his newly-minted mentor, as the Suns concluded their pre-Christmas training block before reconvening in the new year.
Hardwick arrived in Carrara this year as Gold Coast's new senior coach, following his mid-season Richmond resignation and Stuart Dew's dismissal in July.
While 'Dimma's highly-publicised move was criticised by some, if Lukosius' words are anything to go by, the three-time flag-winning mastermind has made his presence felt positively in Surfers' Paradise.
"As I've got to know him I've realised his passion for coming up here and coaching and where he sees we can go," Lukosius said, via AAP.
"He's definitely winning me over.
"He wants to play a system that he thinks will stand up in big games and finals.
"But even more than that, he'll back us in to play to our strengths. Get the best out of us and he's got lots of self-confidence, which is rubbing off (on the playing group)."
Lukosius, who booted 39 goals in 2023 as a permanent forward but is no stranger to a positional change, compared Gold Coast's burgeoning forward brigade to Richmond's at the height of its premiership dynasty.
"When they were up and running and moving the ball quickly, Riewoldt and Lynch were getting on the end of plenty," Lukosius said of the Hardwick-led Tigers.
"With our dangerous forward line, it's going to be exciting."
The 23-year-old Lukosius, who hails from South Australia, last year signed a four-year contract extension to remain in Queensland.
"To stay in games and fight out gritty wins, that'll be the measure of how we go (next season)," he continued.
"It'll take some time to adjust for sure, but the improvements will happen organically if we keep our mindset right."
Hardwick's Suns open their 2024 account against his former club, Richmond, in the AFL's Opening Round at Heritage Bank Stadium in early March.
