It's official - finally.
The Gold Coast's on-again, off-again announcement that Rodney Eade will be their new coach has finally happened after days of talks with Collingwood.
And the Suns are already talking finals footy.
The Magpies agreed to release Eade from the last two years of his contract as director of football, after finalising financial compensation with the Suns.
The clubs agreed on an undisclosed sum after three days of intense negotiations but there was speculation that it was as high as $50,000.
However, the Suns believe Eade's experience will be priceless as they look to take the "next step".
"Make no mistake, the Gold Coast Football Club is moving in to a period where we expect the team to be playing finals football and aiming for sustained success," Suns chairman John Witheriff said in a statement.
Eade, 56, takes up a three-year deal, capping a successful month for the Suns which has also included the appointment of Andrew Travis as CEO and the signings of Sydney premiership player Nick Malceski and ex-Hawk Mitch Hallahan.
Eade admitted he did not think he would add to his 314 games as an AFL head coach when he joined Collingwood.
"Only a very specific opportunity was going to lure me away from Collingwood and back into coaching," Eade said in a statement.
"I took the director of football role at Collingwood because I saw it as my next great professional challenge.
"Then, almost out of left field, the opportunity with the Suns emerged and, to be honest, there probably wasn't another that I was prepared to consider."
It will mark Eade's third stint as senior coach after leading Sydney to the 1996 grand final and the Western Bulldogs to three preliminary finals from 2007-2009.
In all, he enjoyed nine finals series in 14 seasons.
It seems there are no hard feelings between the Suns and Collingwood.
"'Rocket' has been a great source of support to our coach, Nathan Buckley, and his experience, industry knowledge, football IQ and personality made him an outstanding person to have at our club," said Collingwood CEO Gary Pert, who will head the football department until they find Eade's replacement.
"Clearly, those same qualities made him someone of obvious appeal to Gold Coast.
"They have chosen wisely, we will miss him and we wish him well."
Witheriff hinted the talks had encouraged the clubs to join forces to help grow the game in Queensland.
"These discussions have also been the catalyst to forming a partnership between the Gold Coast Suns and Collingwood Football Club to further grow our great game in Queensland and we look forward to expanding on this in the near future," he said.
Eade - a former four-time Hawthorn premiership player - replaces foundation Suns coach Guy McKenna, who was sacked on October 1 with a year left on his contract.
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