Suns’ offer too good to refuse: Eade

Rodney Eade thought his AFL coaching days were behind him – until Gold Coast made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

The 56-year-old has been charged with taking the fledgling side to new heights after accepting a three-year deal at the club.

While the announcement is yet to be made official, he’s expected to take over as Suns coach on November 17.

On Thursday, Collingwood’s former football director said the “mouth-watering” offer had reignited his passion for coaching.

“I’d certainly reconciled that I wouldn’t coach again. The role I had at Collingwood was terrific,” he told SEN 1116.

“But once (the Suns) spoke to me it just ignited the embers.”

He said negotiations had accelerated quickly since meeting Gold Coast last week.

All that remained was some “wrangling going on in the background” before things were made official, he said.

As he prepares to take over from Guy McKenna, Eade said the club’s young players would have to match natural ability with hard work if they wanted to climb the ladder.

If he can guide the team to a grand final, the four-time Hawthorn premiership player will be able to tick off the one glaring omission on his impressive AFL resume.

Of the 19 men to coach 300 or more matches in VFL-AFL history, Eade and John Northey are the only two not to have won a grand final.

He came close in 1996 when Sydney made the grand final and the Western Bulldogs played in the 2008-10 preliminary finals.

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