WITH many in the football world questioning its short-term prospects and long-term viability, Gold Coast has launched a combative new campaign it hopes will galvanise both the club and community.
'Challenge Accepted' is the campaign's catch cry as the Suns embark on a season many predict will result in only a handful of victories.
Speaking at a community event at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach on Friday morning, CEO Mark Evans said Gold Coast needed to break the "cycle" that had dogged its first eight years of existence.
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"We've had a very deliberate reset of all of the things we've been doing," Evans said.
"We've completely changed over our coaching structure, gameplan, 13 new players, 14 new staff, and we thought it was a good time to tell the world there's a change in attitude at the Suns.
We looked at it and said if we keep going down the path we are, we stay in the same cycle, it's time to do something different.
"The club has embraced it and I think the community will embrace the message as well."
After four wins last season, a 17th-place finish and the departure of co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May, Evans said he was putting no specific expectations on 2019.
"I think when we get to the end of this season if the people that are really close to the club can say we've noticed a change, and that that change is going to take you somewhere, that's what we're after," he said.
"I'm not sure what that means – is that four wins, eight wins, 12 wins, 16 wins? – it can be anywhere in there as long as people believe we're on the right path.
"We need to inspire the community by what we do on the field and the manner in which we do that and the way we interact with the community off the field."
Gold Coast will play Brisbane on Saturday afternoon at Metricon Stadium in six 20-minute periods.
Aside from its injured personnel and AFLX participants, the Suns will rest Jarrod Witts, David Swallow and Touk Miller for the match.