Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick gives whacks AFL over pre-season schedule: ‘One job’

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Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick gives whacks AFL over pre-season schedule: ‘One job’

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coach Damien Hardwick has sent the

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a serious message after

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… and it was on behalf of the Swans.

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(not weeks), Hardwick says the structure of the pre-season needs greater thought.

The

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starts next Thursday with only eight teams out of the league’s 18 featuring.

The Swans are one of those teams, as are Gold Coast, but the Swans are playing their first game for premiership points on Friday against Hawthorn (the Suns take on Essendon on Saturday, while Hawthorn played their practice game on Thursday).

The Swans are now in mad scramble to get back home but were “stuck” in Queensland overnight after the clash with Gold Coast.

Hardwick said the AFL had “one job” … and they needed to get it right.

“We have to get a bit better and it’s hard, because round zero comes in and then some sides have two weeks off,” Hardwick said.

“We need to put our heads together and figure out what we can do, and get a little bit tighter.

“Sydney can’t get home tonight and they play next Friday, they’re stuck here.

“We just have to get this scheduling better.

“They have one job, the AFL, let’s get it sorted out.”

Other teams that feature in Opening Round are reigning premiers Brisbane (who played their practice game on Thursday in their home state, Geelong (who played on Tuesday at their home ground), and Collingwood (who are playing the Giants on Sunday after featuring in a practice match on Wednesday).

It all makes for a tight turnaround for the Swans, who are also dealing with the concerning injury to Gulden – was sent to hospital for scans on an ankle injury.

Gulden’s ankle was caught under him and twisted awkwardly when he was tackled early in the game. He was in agony and needed two trainers to help him from the ground.

There was speculation the dual All-*********** suffered a syndesmosis injury, potentially sidelining him for several weeks.

Those fears escalated on Saturday morning, with reports suggesting Gulden could now miss months.

“Obviously when a player comes off like that, your concerns are heightened,” Swans assistant coach Mark McVeigh after the game.

“It didn’t look good, but we have to wait on the scan results.”

Hardwick’s concerns about the practice match schedule were no doubt sparked by the injuries to his own players as well.

It was a night of injury carnage, with Suns players Mac Andrew (sternum), Charlie Ballard (ankle), David ******** (knee) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) also taken out of the game.

Earlier on Friday,

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and star

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were confirmed as being out of action for at least six weeks.

The major injuries have fuelled the talk about whether the pre-season schedule has contributed to more injuries than usual.

While Gulden is a big worry, Sydney will regain stars such as Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Dane Rampe for next week’s opener (who were wisely rested for the match against the Suns).

Despite Gulden’s injury and the inability to get an overnight flight home, McVeigh said Sydney were pleased with how their pre-season had gone.

“We feel like we’ve had a pretty good run-in,” he said.

They fielded an undermanned side on Friday night, with Tom McCartin’s four goals the big highlight.

McCartin has played previously as a key defender and McVeigh said he could go back to that role, depending on what the team needs.

“That might swap week-to-week, we don’t know,” McVeigh said.

“I don’t think we’re entirely settled on where he’ll play.”

– With AAP

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#Gold #Coast #Suns #coach #Damien #Hardwick #whacks #AFL #preseason #schedule #job

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