'This bloke knows what he's talking about': Wil Powell in awe of new Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick
New Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick is having an immediate impact since his shock move up north.
Hybrid Suns defender Wil Powell has heaped praise on the former Richmond and triple premiership coach, who left his role at the Tigers in May 2023 citing a \, but months later took up the role with the Gold Coast.
Since his move to the Suns, Hardwick has been transforming the joint, according to his eager players.
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"Every time he stands in front of us and speaks it's like, 'wow, this bloke knows what he's talking about'," Powell told SEN Radio on Tuesday.
"He's awesome. It's so good with a new coach and he's got the runs on the board. Everyone is so eager to learn from him."
Damien Hardwick has his Suns players in awe already. Getty
The Suns are yet to make the finals since their inception into the league in 2011. They've also gone through five coaches in that time.
Hardwick, coach number six, has a lot more expectations on his shoulders than those who came before him.
But Powell, who has played 87 games with the Suns since his debut in 2018, has a bigger belief in Hardwick than any other coach he's had before.
"Offence, defence and contest is what it's based on. We trust him from the get-go because he's got the runs on the board," Powell said.
Wil Powell has thrown his support behind Damien Hardwick. Getty
"The game plan he's implemented is so exciting. It's such an exciting brand of footy. We've been training really well and I think he's starting to get really happy with the way we're playing.
"He teaches it as if you're in school. He's a really good teacher of the game plan, so it make it easy to go out and implement it."
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The Suns are looking to start their 2024 season on the right foot, but will have to get through Hardwick's old side Richmond in the AFL's new Opening Round, playing at Heritage Bank Stadium a week before round one.
"It should be a very fun and exciting year for a finals berth," Powell said.
