Premiership coaches Chris Scott and Alastair Clarkson have been linked to the senior coaching position at Gold Coast.
Suns coach Stuart Dew remains contracted with the club until the end of the 2022 season, yet finds his position in the spotlight once again following a 98-point loss to Melbourne on Sunday.
The loss has seen the Suns concede 31.29 (215) in their past six quarters of football, with a young list once again tiring as the season draws to a close.
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While expectations were unlikely to be set for a top-eight finish, the Suns are currently anchored to 15th on the ladder due to several disappointing performances.
With the current coaching market in a spin following the shock news of Alastair Clarkson's premature and impending exit from Hawthorn, further pressure has mounted on Dew's shoulders.
Clarkson is seen as the perfect candidate to lead the Suns into a finals berth and further, having become the most successful coach this century has seen.
His availability is sure to gauge the interest of Collingwood and Carlton, while the Suns are now a reported chance.
Clarkson may not be the only name on the Suns' target list should they be looking to find a replacement for Dew, with journalist Sam McClure believing Geelong coach Chris Scott is in their sights.
Speaking on Footy Classified, McClure stated his beliefs that the AFL and the Suns could be looking at either Scott or Clarkson as coaching options should they be deemed available to make the move north.
“This has been long talked about inside the corridors of the AFL,” McClure said.
“I even think as recently as the last few weeks before Steve Hocking left to be CEO of Geelong, that Chris Scott was being pushed by Hocking and other senior figures in the AFL.
“Whether that was before he knew that he was going to be CEO of Geelong or whether it was at another time, I can’t tell you, but there are people at the AFL who believe that Chris Scott, particularly if he wins another premiership with Geelong this year, could be someone that is available.
“Alastair Clarkson is clearly someone that (CEO) Mark Evans and the Gold Coast Suns reach out to, as I’m sure Carlton will, as I’m sure Dave Matthews at GWS will with Leon Cameron out of contract next year.”
Scott had also been linked to the Collingwood job earlier this season by fellow Footy Classified presenter Caroline Wilson.
Wilson was of the belief that the premiership coach's name had been floated as a potential successor to the now-departed Nathan Buckley.
The Magpies are understood to have held interviews with Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley and former Brisbane senior coach Michael Voss so far in their search.
With Clarkson now somewhat available for next season, there is string belief Collingwood will press for the four-time premiership coach's services.
With Carlton currently under an external review, the Blues remain linked to the departing Hawthorn coach too, while Suns CEO Mark Evans recently expressed his respect for Clarkson.
“We would do anything to make our club better,” Evans said, per SEN.
looks on during the round 14 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Sydney Cricket Ground on June 21, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“We’d be quite open to put support around the development of Stuart and the rest of our football program, there’d be 17 clubs who would love to have Alastair Clarkson involved.
“Without having spoken to anyone, we would just do anything we could to make our place better and if that was him being involved, terrific.”
