The Gold Coast Suns, officially the Gold Coast Football Club, are a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club is based on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
Founded in 2009, the club has been playing in the AFL since the 2011 season. It plays home matches at Carrara Stadium (known for commercial purposes as People First Stadium) and has its training and administrative facilities located at the adjacent Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre. The club is one of two AFL clubs based in Queensland, the other being its main rival, the Brisbane Lions, which it competes against in the QClash.
In addition to the men's team, the Suns field other teams, including an AFL Women's side, a reserves side in the Victorian Football League, and a Gold Coast Suns Academy side consisting of the club's best junior development signings. It also competes in Division 2 of the men's, women's underage championships, and the Talent League.
History
Foundation The first application for a licence by a Gold Coast team to enter the AFL was made in 1996 by the wealthy and popular Gold Coast-based Southport Sharks (formed 1961); with an excess of 20,000 members, the on-field QAFL powerhouse made a formal bid to the AFL. However, the AFL declined the licence in favour of admitting the Port Adelaide Football Club. There was strong opposition from the majority of the QAFL clubs and supporters, and the AFL felt that the popular Sharks brand, and its reliance on gaming and hospitality revenue, could divide rather than unite the Gold Coast community. In 2006, the AFL attempted to negotiate a merger between the Sharks and a Melbourne-based club. The AFL made the Gold Coast a primary target for a proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club which had sold some of its home games there. The league pushed for a merger with the Sharks offering significant financial incentives, however North Melbourne blocked the move and the AFL decided that a new licence would be the best avenue for moving forward. On 24 December 2007, the AFL obtained Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) registration for the name "Gold Coast Football Club Ltd".Wilson, C; Silence from presidents means 18-team AFL , The Age. Retrieved 14 March 2008 In March 2008 the AFL won the support of the league's 16 club presidents to establish sides on the Gold Coast and in Western Sydney.Wilson, Caroline; Raid on home turf of league ; Realfooty.com.au; 16 February 2008 Shortly thereafter the AFL invited the Sharks to become part of a consortium, and the club made a $150,000 donation and sought to meet the strict criteria set down for inclusion by the AFL.Sharks add $150k to Gold Coast bid from AFL.com.au May 31, 2008 As part of the winning bid, the Sharks contributed $10 million in corporate sponsorship. However the AFL officially ruled out use of the Sharks nickname (along with other nominations including the Dolphins and Pirates) for the new club, despite them being the highest polling choices of AFL supporters.GC17 bid team float five names for club Jul 14, 2008 The club's identity was put to a public nomination and voting process with the Marlins and Stingrays being the most popular of the available options among community stakeholders. In response to the poll, however the AFL announced that it would not adopt any of the community suggested names and the team would initially remain unnamed and that the nickname would evolve. However it was later leaked that the AFL's marketing department had already chosen the Suns brand independent of the community consultation.Gold Coast: name your identity by Will Brodie for The Age July 14, 2010
The new club was formally granted the licence to compete in the AFL on 31 March 2009.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou announced the club could debut in the Queensland State League in 2009 as it recruited players and prepared for its debut season in the AFL, which the league scheduled for 2011. Marquee AFL players such as Nick Riewoldt, Lance Franklin, Nic Naitanui and Kurt Tippett were speculated as potential signings for Gold Coast, though all four men ended up re-signing with their existing clubs. In June 2008 it was announced that the new team would play in the TAC Cup in 2009 and the Victorian Football League in 2010 ahead of its entry into the AFL in 2011.TAC Cup to help blood new team ; realfooty.com.au Later that year the board of business-people who had been appointed to set up the club, and were known as the GC17 bid, appointed WAFL coach and former player Guy McKenna as senior coach. Essendon administrator Travis Auld was selected as head of the GC17 board, and would go on to lead the club in an off-field capacity for several years.
The AFL were able to successfully negotiate with the Queensland Government to redevelop Carrara Stadium as the club's new home ground. The announcement of the redevelopment, of which a small portion was funded by the AFL, was made in May 2009. On 22 July 2010 club administrators announced that the club would be known as the Gold Coast Suns, and adopt the colours red, gold and blue.
2009: TAC Cup
The club's newly assembled junior squad competed in the 2009 TAC Cup under 18 competition and won most of their games, eventually finishing in 5th place. They defeated the Northern Knights in the elimination final but then lost their semi final to the Geelong Falcons.
2010: VFL
In November 2009 the team signed twelve 17-year-olds around the country to compete in the Victorian Football League (VFL) year through the under age access rules. These players included Luke Russell (Burnie), Maverick Weller (Burnie), Taylor Hine (Calder), Josh Toy (Calder), Matt Shaw (Dandenong), Piers Flanagan (Geelong), Hayden Jolly (Glenelg), Alex Keath (Murray), Jack Hutchins (Sandringham), Tom Nicholls (Sandringham), Brandon Matera (South Fremantle), Trent McKenzie (Western Jets).
The Gold Coast was also given permission (by the AFL) to play David Swallow in 2010, despite not being the correct age. The deal that was struck with the AFL stated that Swallow would still need to go through the 2010 AFL draft to officially join the team, while the other under age recruits contracts would run through 2011.
Inaugural VFL team
2011: AFL debut Concessions on entry into the AFL Year Draft picks Senior list size Salary cap allowance Zone access Notes 2009 - - - 20 QLD The club was granted access to twenty 17-year-old Queensland players who were eligible for the 2009 AFL draft. The team competed in the under 18 TAC Cup competition in 2009. 2010 - - - 5 QLD2 NT The club was allowed to sign up to twelve 17-year-olds born between 1 January and 30 April 1992. The club also received the first 5 picks in the rookie draft. The team competed in the Victorian Football League competition in 2010. 2011 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 26, 43 48 $1,000,000 extra 5 QLD At the conclusion of the 2010 season the club was able to sign up to 16 current AFL players who were uncontracted for the 2011 season. The club was also allowed to sign up to 10 players who had previously elected for the national draft and weren't selected. 2012 AFL standard 46 $800,000 extra 5 QLD - 2013 AFL standard 42 $600,000 extra AFL standard - 2014 AFL standard 40 $400,000 extra AFL standard - 2015 AFL standard AFL standard AFL standard AFL standard All concessions removed and the club operates like every other team in the AFL.
Players acquired through concessions Concession Players acquired QLD zone access Joseph Daye (2009), Charlie Dixon (2009), Jesse Haberfield (2009), Tom Hickey (2010), Rex Liddy (2010), Marc Lock (2009), Lewis Moss (2010), Zac Smith (2009), Jack Stanlake (2009), Jack Stanley (2009), Rory Thompson (2009), Joel Wilkinson (2010). NT zone access Steven May (2010), Liam Patrick (2009). 2009 rookie selections Daniel Harris (1), Michael Coad (2), Sam Iles (3), Roland Ah Chee (4), Danny Stanley (5). 2009 underage selections Piers Flanagan, Taylor Hine, Jack Hutchins, Hayden Jolly, Brandon Matera, Trent McKenzie, Tom Nicholls, Luke Russell, Matt Shaw, Josh Toy, Maverick Weller. 2010 off-contract signings Gary Ablett Jr, Nathan Bock, Jared Brennan, Campbell Brown, Josh Fraser, Jarrod Harbrow, Nathan Krakouer, Michael Rischitelli. 2010 draft selections David Swallow (1), Harley Bennell (2), Sam Day (3), Josh Caddy (7), Dion Prestia (9), Daniel Gorringe (10), Tom Lynch (11), Seb Tape (13).
Initial 2011 playing squad recruitment 2011 Playing Squad Name State Recruited From Selection Type Charlie Dixon Queensland Redland Bombers Zone Selection Rex Liddy Queensland Kenmore Bears Zone Selection Lewis Moss Queensland Port Douglas Crocs Zone Selection Zac Smith Queensland Southport Sharks Zone Selection Jack Stanlake Queensland Southport Sharks Zone Selection Joel Wilkinson Queensland Broadbeach Cats Zone Selection Joseph Daye Queensland Southport Sharks Zone Selection Rory Thompson Queensland Southport Sharks Zone Selection Tom Hickey Queensland Morningside Panthers Zone Selection Marc Lock Queensland Labrador Tigers Zone Selection Steven May Northern Territory Melbourne Grammar School Zone Selection Liam Patrick Northern Territory Wanderers Eagles Zone Selection Karmichael Hunt New Zealand Biarritz Olympique Rookie Promotion Daniel Harris Victoria North Melbourne Kangaroos Rookie Promotion Michael Coad South Australia Sturt Double Blues Rookie Promotion Sam Iles Tasmania Box Hill Hawks Rookie Promotion Danny Stanley Victoria Collingwood Magpies Rookie Promotion Luke Russell Tasmania Burnie Dockers Underage Maverick Weller Tasmania Burnie Dockers Underage Matt Shaw Victoria Dandenong Stingrays Underage Trent McKenzie Victoria Western Jets Underage Josh Toy Victoria Calder Cannons Underage Hayden Jolly South Australia Glenelg Tigers Underage Brandon Matera Western Australia South Fremantle Bulldogs Underage Taylor Hine Victoria Calder Cannons Underage Piers Flanagan Victoria Geelong Falcons Underage Tom Nicholls Victoria Sandringham Dragons Underage Jack Hutchins Australia Sandringham Dragons Underage Alex Keath Victoria Murray Bushrangers Underage Nathan Bock South Australia Adelaide Crows Uncontracted Nathan Krakouer Western Australia Port Adelaide Power Uncontracted Michael Rischitelli Victoria Brisbane Lions Uncontracted Campbell Brown Western Australia Hawthorn Hawks Uncontracted Jarrod Harbrow Queensland Western Bulldogs Uncontracted Gary Ablett, Jr. Victoria Geelong Cats Uncontracted Josh Fraser Victoria Collingwood Magpies Uncontracted Jared Brennan Northern Territory Brisbane Lions Uncontracted David Swallow Western Australia East Fremantle Sharks National Draft (1) Harley Bennell Western Australia Peel Thunder National Draft (2) Sam Day South Australia Sturt Double Blues National Draft (3) Josh Caddy Victoria Northern Knights National Draft (7) Dion Prestia Victoria Calder Cannons National Draft (9) Daniel Gorringe South Australia Norwood Redlegs National Draft (10) Tom Lynch Victoria Dandenong Stingrays National Draft (11) Seb Tape South Australia Glenelg Tigers National Draft (13) Jeremy Taylor Victoria Geelong Falcons National Draft (39) Jacob Gillbee Tasmania Lauderdale Bombers National Draft (49) Nathan Ablett Victoria Geelong Football Club Pre Season Draft (1)
Inaugural AFL team
2011–2014: McKenna era
Guy McKenna would continue to coach the team throughout the 2011 season and beyond, after successfully guiding the club through its journey in the TAC Cup and VFL in 2009 and 2010. The Suns would play their first four "home" games of the 2011 AFL season at the Gabba in Brisbane, while their home stadium (Metricon Stadium) underwent final redevelopment works.