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AFL great Leigh Matthews says slumping Gold Coast have never been in a worse spot on the field since they joined the league.

AFL great Leigh Matthews has savaged Gold Coast's current form, saying on-field they are at the worst spot in their nine-year history.

While Matthews rates their off-field changes, headed by fellow Hawthorn alumni Mark Evans as Suns chief executive, he says clearly the expansion club must overhaul their playing list.

After a promising 3-1 start to the season, Gold Coast are on a 12-game losing streak.

There have been some tight losses, but Saturday night's 95-point mauling from Adelaide follows last week's 92-point drubbing from Richmond.

The Suns, who are yet to make the finals, will lobby the AFL for a priority draft pick.

"If they don't get the priority pick then no-one's going to get the priority pick," Matthews told Channel Seven's Game Day.

"Clearly their list is nowhere good enough to think they're going to get anywhere with the current group of players.

"They need to get the best 18-year-olds - good ability, strong character - but they have to get a bit of experience somehow in there as well.

"It's a really bad place - that footy club, at the moment, given what's happened over its seven or eight-year existence, I would have thought its worst place, now, than ever."

Off the field Matthews sees signs of life, with Evans taking over two years ago as chief executive.

Stuart Dew is in his second season as their senior coach, with Jon Haines the new football boss.

"They have to get the system right behind the scenes," Matthews said.

"I'm a great fan of Mark Evans and I think he's a really good football CEO.

"John Haines was his appointment as football manager, obviously Stuart Dew as coach.

"So that's the group they're based on, but they have to recruit."