The Gold Coast SUNS have made the following changes to its coaching structure ahead of the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
After two seasons with the club as VFL Head Coach and Development Coach, Jackson Kornberg will depart the SUNS and return to Victoria.
Kornberg oversaw the club’s 2022 VFL campaign which saw the SUNS reach the Preliminary Final, then was also heavily involved as an assistant coach in the club’s VFL premiership campaign in 2023.
“We’d like to thank Jackson for his enthusiasm, work ethic and passion since he made the move and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” GC SUNS General Manager of Football Performance Wayne Campbell said.
To fill the Development Coach role, the club has appointed former SUNS and Sydney Swans player Nick Malceski, who returns to the club after previously coaching four seasons with the SUNS following the conclusion of his playing career.
As a player Malceski reached 210 games, with 176 for the Sydney Swans including the 2012 Premiership and 34 games in two seasons for the SUNS at the end of his career.
“Nick’s passion for coaching and player development was evident during the interview process and he will add enormous expertise to our development program,” Campbell said.
“We’ve been really impressed with how Nick has continued to develop his coaching craft since departing the club and feel his strengths will complement our existing coaching group well.”
In 2020 Malceski took on a new opportunity as Head Coach of the Labrador Tigers in the QAFL, taking the club to back-to-back finals appearances in 2021 and 2022.
He was named the AFLQ Senior Coach of the Year in 2021.
The club has also appointed Rhyce Shaw to a newly created role of Director of Coaching – Academy, which is designed to grow both the number and quality of coaches in Gold Coast’s Academy regions.
“We’ve been in conversation with Rhyce over the back half of the season around a change in role and it is exciting to announce him to the newly formed role of Director of Coaching in our Academy,” Campbell said.
“Rhyce has had an enormous impact on so many people in our football club and he will continue to do so in his new role.
“Our Academy has grown exponentially in recent years and we believe Rhyce will add unparalleled experience and value to this role as we strive to continue to invest in our Academy programs.”
The club’s 2023 coaching panel is now confirmed with Malceski joining fellow new additions Damien Hardwick and Shaun Grigg, alongside existing coaches Steven King, Brad Miller, Josh Drummond and Tate Kaesler.
