Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon and Hawthorn counterpart have led public criticism of the AFL’s help for Gold Coast.
The league’s raft of priority draft picks over the next three years and other assistance was more generous than expected.
Gordon said the AFL should make the Suns trade their picks for more experienced players, while Kennett wondered aloud whether Gold Coast should have been established at all.
While fellow expansion club GWS made the grand final for the first time, the Suns are yet to make the top eight.
Gordon wants the league to explain how it came up with the package for Gold Coast.
“For me, it would have made more sense to provide those picks but to also oblige the Suns to trade those picks for quality mature and experienced players … which is what they seem to lack and explains why their season tailed off so badly,” Gordon told The Age.
“The steps they’ve taken seem to me to be doing more of the same but expecting a different result.
“You’d hope these matters actually get discussed at commission meetings.”
Kennett is often the most vocal critic of the AFL among the club bosses, and it came as no surprise that he also was unimpressed with the help for Gold Coast.
“The AFL is trying to give the Suns an opportunity to grow, but it’s probably based on a recognition that must call into question whether the Gold Coast should have been established,” Kennett told AFL Trade Radio.
“These people who may be selected in the first and second positions of the draft … how do you ensure that they are going to stay at the Gold Coast?”
The AFL’s help means the Suns now have the first two picks in this year’s national draft.