GOLD Coast has rounded out its coaching group under Stuart Dew with former AFL stars Josh Francou and Andrew Swallow.
Francou's appointment was a long time in the making, with AFL.com.au revealing the club's interest in the 156-game Port Adelaide midfielder and ex-Crows assistant in early August.
The 44-year-old joins the Suns as head of development and integration and will be responsible for overseeing coaching and development throughout the club's Academy, NEAFL and AFL programs.
He will also work with Gold Coast's midfielders.
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Dew and Francou were Power teammates and part of Sydney's coaching staff under John Longmire from 2014 to last year, when they both moved to other clubs.
Francou, an All Australian in 2002, resigned as an Adelaide assistant in late August, just one year into a three-season contract.
The Suns' general manager of football operations, Jon Haines, said they would benefit from Francou's diverse range of experiences.
"Josh is highly regarded across the AFL industry, both for his playing career and coaching background," Haines said.
"He brings to the club an extensive coaching CV, and his teaching background will be a great asset in the development of our playing group, along with supporting the integration of all aspects of the learning experience, from Academy to the senior AFL program.
"We're all excited that Josh, his wife Jo and three boys Will, Oli and Ben will be joining the Gold Coast Suns in the coming months."
Andrew Swallow joins his younger brother David, one of the Suns' prime movers, at the club in a part-time specialist coaching role, with an emphasis on stoppage craft and tackling.
He played 224 matches for North Melbourne and won three Syd Barker medals as the Roos' best and fairest in a distinguished career before playing for NEAFL club Aspley in 2018.
"Andrew is a terrific character who is going to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our playing group," Haines said.
"We look forward to Andrew, Elise, Isabelle and Jude joining brother David and his young family at the club."
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There has been significant turnover in Gold Coast's coaching group this off-season, with Francou and Swallow joining fellow newcomers Josh Drummond, Tate Kaesler and Tim Clarke.
Remaining from the 2018 season are Dew, Dean Solomon, Ashley Prescott and Nick Malceski.
Gold Coast's 2019 coaching staff
Senior coach: Stuart Dew
Senior assistant coach: Dean Solomon
Forwards coach: Ashley Prescott
Defensive coach: Josh Drummond
Head of development and integration/midfield coach: Josh Francou
Development coach/ NEAFL Senior Coach: Nick Malceski
Development coach: Tate Kaesler
Development coach: Tim Clarke
Specialist coach: Andrew Swallow
