BEN KING may have played his last game for Gold Coast, and for coach Damien Hardwick "it is what it is".
Following the conclusion of the Suns' final match for the season – a 23-point win over St Kilda in what was ultimately a dead rubber – King was visibly emotional while being supported by Matt Rowell.
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As a restricted free agent, King is expected to leave the Suns and join Hawthorn.
"That's free agency, that's what our game is, and yeah, we have the last right of refusal so that's obviously something that we'll consider. He was obviously quite emotional so yeah, might possibly be his last game. We're not quite exactly sure," Hardwick said post-match.
The coach did make a plea towards other experienced forwards should King leave, conscious that the rest of Gold Coast's attack – Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Leo Lombard, Lachlan Gulbin – is very young.
"We probably need another experienced player, so if there's any experienced forward out there that wants to come to our footy club, give me a call," Hardwick said with a smile.
"Look, we'll make list management decisions through the year, we'll just wait and work our way through that process."
Hardwick admitted to trying to fit "square pegs in round holes" at times this year, having to assess his own coaching throughout the club's rollercoaster season. Initially touted as a genuine finals chance, and starting the year strongly, the Suns fell dramatically out of contention.
"It's been challenging, it's been challenging in different ways. We started the year pretty well, there were some things in our game we weren't quite in love with early, and then we sort of tried a few things… We fell short of expectation, we accept that, we are accountable and responsible for that, so we'll get better," Hardwick said.
"It's going to be a quick bounce, I think we're looking forward to getting back where we need to get to next year… there's some things that I did this year that didn't work. I changed a little bit of my coaching philosophy, tried to put square pegs in round holes and (it) just didn't work."
For Ross Lyon, the game was a chance to assess the culture of his playing group.
"I think maybe I've driven it a bit harder in the past, but sometimes you just want to see, it's got to come from within. So, talk about character and culture, and you know the one thing – and all clubs will talk about it – one thing you've always got in your control is your effort piece and your mental resilience to bring your best," Lyon said.
"I backed off a little bit last week, to be honest, and just said, like what do you stand for? It's the old leading teams, it's a sign on the wall, it's a living breathing (thing). As we're seeing around the League, culture's not fixed. You're only as good as your next moment and the standards you deliver. And that's on and off the field. So, no culture is fixed and in perpetuity, it's a product of all the people in there and a common set of behaviours and actions that you see on a daily basis. And once you start going away from that, well, the culture changes."
Lyon confirmed that roughly eight Saints will head in for off-season surgery, including star recruits Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning, who both finished the match on the bench with right shoulder injuries.
He also addressed the potential loss of ruck Rowan Marshall and assistant coach Corey Enright this off-season.
Marshall, despite being contracted, was targeted by Geelong last year, and Enright is considered a candidate to take a job elsewhere, as he comes out of contract.
"Everything's transient and nothing's forever," Lyon said.
"We respect and work really well with Corey, he's been here five years I think… Corey's such a good person that at the right time he will talk to us, whether he's going to stay. It's good that he's in demand."