Suns confident they can fill Brown's shoes

[Ricochet]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-15/filling-browns-big-shoes?utm_medium=RSS

GOLD Coast remains confident it has the personnel to overcome the experience lost after the sacking of defender Campbell Brown.

The Suns axed 205-gamer Brown in November after a fight with teammate Steven May outside a nightclub in Los Angeles, with May suffering a broken jaw in the incident.

The 30-year-old, who won a premiership during his time at Hawthorn, was the second-most experienced player at the Suns with only captain Gary Ablett having played more games.

Midfielder Danny Stanley conceded Brown's presence had been missed but said he was confident the talent at the club would step up to fill the void.

"We'll definitely miss his enthusiasm and passion on the field," Stanley said on Wednesday.

"But we've got a lot of guys in that mid-tier and a few younger players as well that will definitely fill the void - step up in terms of leadership. We've got plenty of young players that can do that."

Stanley, a former Collingwood player who is entering his seventh AFL campaign, is one of several Suns stars who have passed the 50-game mark during their time with the club.

The 25-year-old said while no one from the coaching staff had discussed him taking on a leadership role, he'd definitely consider it if an approach was made.

"I see myself as a leader of this football club but, in saying that, there's a lot of young guys who could do that as well," he said. "Wait and see."

Stanley has also praised the level-headedness of former rugby league star Karmichael Hunt, who has been the source of much speculation over his playing future with the Suns after an injury-hit 2013 and amid reports NRL clubs were preparing bids to lure the former Queensland and Australian representative back to the 13-man code.

"K's pretty laid back and nothing seems to faze him," Stanley said.

"We haven't noticed anything as players. He just goes about it the way he usually does and he's been attacking training like he normally would."