In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the AFLW community, the Gold Coast Suns have made the drastic decision to sack head coach Cameron Joyce, mere months after extending his contract until the end of the 2026 season. The move comes on the heels of a bitterly disappointing 2024 campaign that saw the Suns’ finals aspirations crumble as they slumped to a 17th place finish.
The Suns had entered the 2024 season with high hopes, having just inked Joyce to a two-year contract extension in June following a promising fifth-place finish and an elimination final berth in 2023. However, those dreams quickly turned to dust as the team struggled mightily, managing just a single win and one draw from their 11 matches.
Suns Conduct Extensive Review After Dismal Season
In the wake of their on-field woes, the Suns embarked on a comprehensive review of their entire AFLW program, determined to identify the changes needed to vault the team into premiership contention. That process reached a dramatic conclusion with the club deciding a new senior coach was required to drive the program forward.
“Following a disappointing 2024 season, we have reviewed all aspects of our AFLW football program to identify how we can continue to improve our performance and ultimately achieve our mission of winning AFLW premierships,” Suns chief executive Mark Evans explained in a statement announcing Joyce’s dismissal.
“In order to take those steps forward and compete against the best teams in the AFLW competition, we have decided the club would be best placed under the guidance of a new head coach.”
Joyce Leaves Legacy Despite Tough Ending
While his tenure ended on a sour note, Evans was quick to pay tribute to Joyce’s contributions to the Suns’ AFLW program over his four seasons at the helm, which included overseeing the team’s transition and building a foundation for future success.
“Cam has led and overseen the transition of our AFLW football program over the past four seasons and created a foundation from which our players can strive for success moving forward,” Evans said.
“We’d like to thank Cam, his wife Leana and sons Henry and Oscar for their significant contributions to our football club.”
Suns Begin Search for New Coach
The Suns confirmed they have not yet lined up a replacement for Joyce and will now begin a thorough search for their next senior coach. The recruitment process means the club will head into the upcoming AFLW trade period, which kicks off on Thursday, without a permanent leader in place.
The stunning sacking and impending coaching search adds yet another layer of intrigue to what already shapes as a fascinating AFLW off-season. After the Suns’ deeply disappointing campaign, all eyes will be on the club to see if they can lure a coaching candidate capable of sparking a rapid turnaround and delivering on the championship ambitions that have so far eluded them.
Only time will tell if the Suns’ bold decision to change course will pay dividends, or if more pain lies ahead for the embattled club. But one thing is certain – after a season from hell, the pressure is now squarely on the Gold Coast brains trust to get this crucial appointment right and give their long-suffering fans renewed hope for a brighter future.
