As a fan of the Gold Coast SUNS, we wanted you to be one of the first to know that we are about to make an historic announcement.
Champion midfielder, 2009 Brownlow Medalist, dual premiership player and four time All Australian Gary Ablett has decided to join the Gold Coast SUNS.
We will hold a media conference in Melbourne at 12.30pm today.
Gary is the single biggest marquee player in the AFL. We are inspired by the fact he has accepted a huge personal challenge to assist in launching a new AFL team in a developing market. We are also inspired by his belief, that we can put together a team that can produce a sustained window of opportunity to achieve great things. His competiveness, work rate, team ethos, manic training and rehabilitation detail will all provide magnificent leadership to our club.
We are not just about building a football club. We are about building a successful football club and we welcome Gary on our exciting journey.
Thank you for your support. An exciting day for your club. Go SUNS!
Gold Coast SUNS welcome Jared Brennan & Josh Fraser to the team!
As a valued fan of the Gold Coast SUNS, we want you to know about the latest announcement regarding the recruitment of un-contracted players to our team.
We are delighted to announce Brisbane Lions midfielder Jared Brennan and Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser will join the club as our final un-contracted signings.
Brennan, the number three pick in the 2002 AFL National Draft, played 117 AFL games for the Lions. He is a very exciting utility capable of playing in any position on the field from ruck to rover.
Fraser, the number one pick in the 1999 AFL National Draft, has played 200 AFL games for the Magpies and is a former vice captain of the Pies.
Brennan and Fraser join six other un-contracted players who have joined the Gold Coast SUNS in recent weeks including Michael Rischitelli, Nathan Bock, Nathan Krakouer, Campbell Brown, Jarrod Harbrow and Gary Ablett.
The Gold Coast SUNS were permitted to sign one un-contracted player from each AFL club as part of the list build provisions granted by the AFL. However, under the rules, a second un-contracted player is eligible to join if the player wishes to move and clubs are in agreement. The Brisbane Lions have agreed to release Brennan to the Gold Coast SUNS.
It's almost time to RISE UP and secure your place in the team as a 2011 Member!
We're excited to announce that Gold Coast SUNS Membership packages for our debut 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will be released on Monday, November 15.
If you wish to receive a membership pack in the mail next week (including 2011 Membership
brochure and application form), simply click here to log in to your Gold Coast SUNS Account
Manager and request for an information pack to be mailed out to you.
While you're there please ensure your name, postal address and contact numbers are current and
correct.
Members and fans are a big part of the Gold Coast SUNS and we want you involved in every step of the journey towards our inaugural 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
Now we have secured the most outstanding talent in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft we would like to invite you to share with us the next milestone! Join us for our first open training session with our full list on Saturday, November 27 at Southport Sharks from 8 to 10am.
This is your exclusive opportunity to see the team train, get autographs from your favourite Gold Coast SUNS players and purchase official merchandise.
Car parking will be available around the oval with ground entry located just near the Musgrave Avenue entrance to Southport Sharks - just follow the signs on the day.
After the event you are welcome to enjoy the Sharks Breakfast Buffet which will be extended to 10.30am especially for Gold Coast SUNS members and fans.
Time 8am-10am
Date Saturday, November 27
Venue Southport Sharks
Corner Musgrave and Olsen Avenues
The Gold Coast SUNS has selected its leadership group for the club's first ever AFL Premiership season and you are the first to find out!
Gary Ablett will be the club's first AFL captain.
He will be supported by Vice Captain Nathan Bock and Deputy Vice Captain Campbell Brown.
The remainder of the leadership group comprises Tasmanian young gun Maverick Weller, big name recruit Michael Rischitelli, last year's captain Marc Lock, fellow Queensland-raised talent Zac Smith, and tough mid-fielder Daniel Harris.
With the GC SUNS' April 2, 2011 AFL debut now just 74 days away, the appointment of the club's inaugural leaders represents an important milestone in the club's short exciting history.
The clubs leaders were selected by the players during a closed vote at the club's pre-season training camp at Mooloolaba in December.
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The Gold Coast SUNS will kick off a busy month of community activity by hosting its 2011 Telstra AFL Community Camp from Saturday February 5 to Tuesday February 8.
The Community Camp will start with an AFL sign-on day with all 12 Gold Coast Junior AFL clubs in attendance at the Southport Broadwater Parklands from 9am to 12pm on Saturday, February 5.
Mayor Ron Clarke will open the day by welcoming the entire Gold Coast SUNS playing list at 9am on stage and we'd love to see you there!
The sign-on day aims to encourage local children to play AFL, with planned activities through the morning including the chance to meet GC SUNS players, get autographs, enter competitions and take part in the interactive Kid Zone as well as buy your official GC SUNS merchandise and 2011 GC SUNS Membership.
Come down and sign on for AFL!
- Gold Coast Junior AFL Clubs will be set up in their Club marquee between 9am to 12pm
- Sign-on for NAB AFL Auskick (ages 5 to 8), Junior AFL (ages 7 to 12), Youth AFL (ages 13 to 18), Women's AFL (U16, U18 and Open Age teams)
- All players on the day who sign-on to Junior Football will receive exclusive access to a kick to kick session with the Gold Coast SUNS players!
Date
Saturday, February 5
Time
9am to 12pm
Venue
Southport Broadwater Parklands
> For more information contact the Club on (07) 55 10 6000.
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It's hard to believe that in just under three weeks your team, the Gold Coast SUNS will run out for the first time in a scheduled AFL clash with Guy McKenna's charges up against the Sydney Swans in the opening round of the 2011 NAB Cup (Saturday, February 19).
After an exhausting pre-season regime, the GC SUNS young playing list are both nervous and excited by the challenges ahead of them, many preparing to make the giant step up from various TAC Cup and VFL sides.
While the players might be a little edgy, the GC SUNS coaching staff are comfortable with the position they find themselves in with General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft saying the playing squad have really firmed as a unit.
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Purchase a 2011 Gold Coast SUNS membership and simply choose GC SUNS SMART PAY when selecting your payment type on your membership application and go in the draw to win one of four Apple iPads!
The Gold Coast SUNS have named a 29-man squad to tackle the West Coast Eagles at
Patersons Stadium, Perth on Sunday.
Michael Rischitelli will have the honour of captaining the side in their first full hit under normal AFL match rules.
Rischitelli will replace Campbell Brown, who captained the side last week, with Brown set to be rested from this week's match.
Rischitelli told goldcoastfc.com.au that he is looking forward to leading the team.
"I can't wait, I haven't captained a team before so on a personal note it's exciting."
"It is a young team, but I think the boys will put in a really good effort and hopefully we can come away with a win and progress further through the competition," Rischitelli said.
GC SUNS Coach Guy McKenna said it will be a young team headed West for the match, but is confident the group will continue to rise to the challenge.
"It will be a further educational process for the group, our senior players are used to travelling, but it will be great to see how some of the younger boys adapt to travelling across the country," McKenna added.
On the Gold Coast and looking for somewhere to watch the games?
Gold Coast SUNS Patron Partner, Southport Sharks will be screening the Gold Coast SUNS' clash against West Coast in the Olive Bar this Saturday. The game in Perth kicks off at 6.30pm (QLD
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JOIN THE TEAM
With just over one month until the Gold Coast SUNS make their historic AFL debut, the anticipation is building and the clock is speedily ticking towards the first siren on April 2!
We've had a chance to run out as an AFL team in the NAB Cup and come away with two very exciting wins, plus the highest rating program on paid TV to date for 2011!
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GC SUNS GOLD COAST STADIUM TAKES SHAPE
Construction on the Gold Coast Stadium is fast approaching the final siren with the Gold Coast SUNS set to take to the field for the first time at their new home ground in just over three months.
Sports Minister, Phil Reeves, inspected progress on the new $144.2 million venue today and said
construction of the stadium continued on time and on budget.
"The installation of the vibrant red seating throughout the venue is near complete, all 450 metres of solar panelling is ready to start producing solar power, the 200sqm scoreboard dominates the northern end of the ground and the fit out of the function rooms and corporate facilities in the
Western Stand continues.
"The venue is really taking shape and looking great. One thing you really notice as you enter the stadium is the close proximity to the field and the great views across the field.
"As a fan it's almost as if you're right on top of the action. The roar of the crowd as the SUNS take to the field on May 28 against Geelong will be something special."
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OUND 1 NAB CUP POST MATCH INSIGHT
For a great wrap up video of the boys in action from Round 1 NAB CUP at Blacktown last weekend, check out GC SUNS TV located on the homepage.
While you're there, make sure you catch the video from the team recovery session at Kurrawa on Tuesday morning which includes an interview with Daniel Harris, who kicked our first goal in game one against Sydney Swans!
If you missed any of the NAB Cup action, full match replays and match highlights are also available.
The phrase "Gold Coast veteran" might seem a contradiction in terms.
But Zac Smith has fair claim to it.
Smith was one of the six original players signed to the embryonic GC17 club back in 2008.
Three years later, he is not only still on the list but he has consolidated himself as the club's no. 1 ruckman.
Smith has been one of the GC SUNS best players in their first season in the AFL and was rewarded as the NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for round seven.
The towering ruckman had 22 possessions and 17 hitouts in Saturday's historic win over the Brisbane Lions.
Smith says he is proud to see the club grow so quickly in the space of three years.
"There's still some elements of what there was in the early days. Bluey (coach Guy McKenna) was there and we didn't have many staff. It's grown into a massive club now," Smith told afl.com.au.
"We've moved venues, they have knocked down the stadium and it's come a long way but we're still going forward."
Smith takes particular pride in playing for the AFL's second Queensland team, as he hails from Zillmere, north of Brisbane.
"When we first started we were all Queenslanders back in 2008. But they've rearranged the list and I think there's only about 12 Queenslanders left on the list. We're pretty tight and I'm very proud to represent Queensland," he said.
Smith has become close with fellow Zillmere product and foundation Gold Coast SUNS player Joey Daye with whom he shares a house.
His other two housemates, Gary and Nathan Ablett have also helped him adjust to life as an AFL player.
The 21-year-old says his captain has been a guiding light for him.
"Just how he goes about his footy and his professionalism is so first-class. The other day we got home from the game at about 1am," he said."
"I was ready to go to bed but he said we should make an ice bath. I jumped in that and I think that has already helped my recovery. He is a really good guy as well."
Smith says there was a renewed focus for the GC SUNS after the previous week's heavy loss to Essendon.
"Coming off that loss last week we focused on starting the game really well. I think we did that. We stuck to our structures and won the contested footy. I think that got us over the line," he said.
"I didn't really think about it. If it came my way it came my way. I'm very happy and honoured. I just want to keep being consistent and play my role for the team."