Will Gold Coast Be The New AFL Superpower Sooner Rather Than Later?

In stark contrast to what we refer to around here as the ‘West Sydney Debacle’, the expansion plans for the Gold Coast side entering the competition in 2011 appear to be coming along rather smoothly. They’ve recently snagged some federal sponsorship for their stadium redevelopment, the TAC Cup side is having some success, and let’s be honest, Gold Coast is where we all wish we were every year when winter rolls around so why shouldn’t there be a footy team there.

The AFL in their wisdom have decided that they need the Gold Coast franchise to be as competitive as possible as soon as possible, and have decided the best way to achieve this is to throw a ‘shitload’ (technical term for 9 first round picks) of draft picks at the new club. In the 2010 AFL Draft before they enter the competition in 2011, they will be selecting at picks 1,2,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,26 and 43. A lot of talk has revolved around the Gold Coast trading some of these picks for some seasoned players to be ready to go from year 1.

However, we’ve decided to have a look at just how strong the youthful foundation of the Gold Coast club could be if they decide to hoard all their draft picks and cop a couple of poor years initially by placing their faith in their kids.

To get an idea of the talent pool the Gold Coast might snag in just the 2010 AFL Draft, take a look at the groups of players drafted in previous years.

Try the 2005 draft and look at these names :

Pick	Name
1	Marc Murphy
2	Dale Thomas
3	Xavier Ellis
5	Scott Pendlebury
7	Paddy Ryder
9	Mitch Clark
11	Shaun Higgins
13	Shannon Hurn
15	Trav Varcoe
26	Garrick Ibbotson
43	Andrew Swallow

An incredible array of talent there! Keep in mind that this group of players is at the equivalent stage for the Gold Coast team entering their 4th season in the competition – a season that their list and recruiting manager Scott Clayton has nominated that their ‘premiership window’ will open.

Think it’s just a fluke? Take a look at 2006:

Pick	Name
1	Bryce Gibbs
2	Scott Gumbleton
3	Lachlan Hansen
5	Travis Boak
7	Joel Selwood
9	David Armitage
11	Andrejs Everitt
13	Jack Riewoldt
15	Daniel O’Keefe
26	Shane Edwards
43	Tim Houlihan

Not quite as intimidating maybe, but still with Gibbs, Selwood and Boak the club would find themselves with 3 of the best midfield youngsters in the competition.

Let’s take a look at 2007:

Pick	Name
1	Matthew Kreuzer
2	Trent Cotchin
3	Chris Masten
5	Jarrad Grant
7	Rhys Palmer
9	Ben McEvoy
11	Patrick Veszpremi
13	Brad Ebert
15	Robbie Tarrant
26	Brett Meredith
43	Easton Wood

Not a bad crop of youngsters to be taking into your second season in the competition! Again, your club has a young on-ball brigade to take it through the next decade.

Finally – how about a crop similar to the 2008 Draft to take into your first AFL season:

Pick	Name
1	Jack Watts
2	Nick Naitanui
3	Stephen Hill
5	Michael Hurley
7	Daniel Rich
9	Jack Ziebell
11	Steele Sidebottom
13	Tom Lynch
15	Mitchell Brown
26	Jayden Post
43	Liam Anthony

Even at this early stage it’s clear just how scary a nucleus the Gold Coast Football Club could put together with their smorgasbord of draft picks in 2010.

The scarier thought is that this is just the tip of the iceberg! Take this group of young guns, and add them to the 32 youngsters currently running around in the Gold Coast U18 TAC Cup side.

Plus – throw in picks 1-5 in this year’s rookie draft…
Plus – throw in 12 of the nation’s most promising 17 year olds born between January 1 and April 30 1992, which they can get their mitts on before the rest of the plebs, sorry AFL teams, get their say in the National Draft…
Plus – throw in zoned access to up to five Queensland players prior to each of 2010, 2011 and 2012 NAB AFL Drafts…
Plus – throw in zoned access to up to three Northern Territory players prior to the 2010 NAB AFL Draft…

We’re not finished – they also get:

• the capacity to pre-list 10 players who had previously nominated for the AFL Draft, or were previously listed with an AFL club, and
• the capacity to sign up to 16 uncontracted players

Think you could build a premiership side from all that? Gold Coast won’t even have salary cap issues – they will be allowed an expanded list size and total player payment allowance in their initial four years, just to help them craft the league’s next great superpower!

Take the best young kids, supplement them with some serviceable veterans, and maybe lure a couple of quality, uncontracted players and you have the recipe for a dynasty which if handled right, could last as long as 7-8 years.

Be scared. Be very scared.