YOUNG Gold Coast forward Ben Ainsworth has taken the coveted No.9 jumper vacated by Gary Ablett at the Suns.

Ainsworth was the No.4 pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft and had a terrific first season, kicking 14 goals in 13 games after overcoming a nagging quad injury he sustained early in the year.

Ablett wore the No.9 for all of his 110 games at the Suns, in which he won a Brownlow Medal and four best and fairests, before being traded to Geelong last month.

Ainsworth has made a huge impression in his first 12 months at Metricon Stadium and is seen as a future leader of the club.

He will not be the only player sporting a new jumper in 2018, with Fremantle recruit Lachie Weller taking hold of No.14 – the same number he wore at the Dockers.

It was made available after Mitch Hallahan was delisted.

Fellow recruit Harrison Wigg has been given No.26 after joining the Suns from Adelaide in the Trade Period.

Gold Coast completed its first training session under new coach Stuart Dew on Monday, with the first-to-fourth-year players returning.

Dew said he had clear areas to work on in the lead-up to next season.

"Being new, I've got some strong opinions on how I want us to play," Dew said.

"The only option for me is to lead that way and work with the other coaches to get that message across.

"I'm a hands-on coach in that sense.

"We need to lay a good foundation defensively. Also, the transition side of the game, I think we can practice that over the next three or four months."