Ben Somerford

By Ben Somerford
July 17th 2009 @ 1:40am

12
Like it? Cheer it. More cheers, higher up on page.
Loading ... Loading ...

ADVERTISEMENT
View The Roar's top AFL writers.
AFL Tipping now live on The Roar. Join now.

What nickname should Gold Coast AFL have?

When the new AFL Gold Coast franchise announced in September last year they’d have no nickname, it left the door wide open for future suggestions. Ten months on, I thought I’d explore the topic.

At the time of that announcement, Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff commented, “During the process we received a lot of feedback from the community. One part of the process involved voting on nicknames. There was no clear favourite with the people who voted.”

Witheriff added, “Some of the world’s great sporting teams and brands are synonymous with the cities they come from. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea are just a few.”

And while that is bold, the reality is this isn’t Europe, this is Australia where everything and everyone gets a nickname.

And this is Australian Rules footy where it’s a tradition to have a nickname, be it in the AFL, VFL, SANFL, WAFL or the Woop Woop country league.

Kids love the nicknames as well as the mascots which come with them, which is always a handy merchandising avenue for clubs.

The problem back in September was the monikers which were voted on, the Marlins, Stingrays, Ironmen, Rays and Guards, simply were uninventive and average, and basically not popular as they didn’t capture the public’s imagination.

But Witheriff did also say, “We will be the Gold Coast, GC or whatever the fans choose to call us. Nicknames evolve over time.” So indeed the door is wide open for future suggestions despite the initial Gold Coast FC branding.

But from those original monikers suggested by the Gold Coast it seems they are after something which identifies with the region and it’s people. And obviously they’ve chased something with that ocean or beach theme and that’s probably the big key prerequisite for Witheriff and co.

Back in September, Witheriff also commented, “We wanted something unique in the AFL and this has never before been done in the league.” And while Gold Coast FC is unique, perhaps an original nickname is essentially what he’d prefer.

Of course, there are the typical nickname requirements too, of being something threatening or powerful, for example the Brisbane Lions rather than the Brisbane Kittens. Also you want something catchy, which rolls off the tongue.

So I took the liberty to explore some Gold Coast FC online fan forums and talk to some of the dwellers on the glitter strip and hear a few suggestions.

Some of the funnier ones I heard included the Gold Coast Grommets, which if you didn’t know is a young surfer. Obviously it’s got the beach theme along with the connotation that Gold Coast’s list will be rather youthful too, in the wake of their draft priority years. But perhaps Witheriff may think not.

Another one, was the Gold Coast Grannies due to the large retired population which reside up on the Gold Coast, although that wouldn’t really instill fear into opposition sides.

There was also the Sharks (which won’t happen due to copyright issues with the Southport Sharks who play up there) as well as the Waves, which is a tad lame. The Tsunamis was another idea thrown at me, but I didn’t think it sent the right message in the wake of the Boxing Day tragedy of a few years ago.

But the best suggestion which I could come across was the Gold Coast Torpedoes.

Of course, it has the beach and ocean connotation, it is very original (I can’t think of any Australian or American franchises with the title), it’s powerful and scary (for want of a better term) and it’s marketable for merchandise and mascots.

But what I like most about it, is it has that AFL footy relation with the famous Aussie rules kicking technique, which gives the name an edge (again, for want of a better term).

But it’s all about what is popular, so what do you think?

Get Australia's best AFL opinion emailed daily.
Like this content? Buzz it up!

Free Email updates:

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...

 

Crowd Says (87)

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment

    To quote Timmypig on the Roar yesterday:

    “The team nickname is something that should grow organically from the fan base, not as a result of a study done by some BBus (Marketing) drop out cocaine snorting advertising agency numpty who doesn’t even like sport.”

    I think the Gold Coast made the right decision not to give the team a nickname just yet. Let it grow, see what happens, what culture develop,etc.

    Being known as Gold Coast (already a marketing name) makes it difficult not to incur some other cringeworthy yank sounding name. They have a lifesaver as a mascot for the kiddies.

    It’s a shame the Sharks cannot be used as that is easily the best option that ticks all the boxes.

    Gold Coast Rays or Marlins would be my picks.

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers

    Derryn said  | July 17th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment

    Gold Coast Box Jelly’s
    Gold Coast Gold Diggers
    Gold Coast Suns
    Gold Coast Snaps (inspired by the amount of cheesy touristy shots taken on the GC)
    Gold Coast Sand Crabs

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Michael C's Roar profile

    Michael C said  | July 17th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment

    The Gold Coast ‘Strip’

    might be a tad controversial,

    the Gold Coast ‘Surf’ I still reckon. ‘Surf’ can then be derived as appropriate to the ‘Surfies’, ‘Surfers’, etc.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment

    Derryn,

    They don’t usually get box jellies that far south :-)

    I like the GC Suns or Sands without the crabs.

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brett McKay said  | July 17th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment

    I’ll throw ‘Gold Coast Mexicans’ up, as a tip of the hat to the population of ex-Vics who essentially screamed out for the team to start with, and for no other reason than to stir Pip and co…

    In all honesty, I don’t partcilularly care what they run with, as long as it doesn’t involve a Fury, Ace, Pulse, Power, Fever, Shock, or something that sounds menacing in theory but really just sound ridiculous..

    Ben, Torpedoes is probably the best of a bad bunch there (a really, really bad bunch), but even that sounds too much like a swimmer with thumping big feet.

    What might be interesting to see is if they just don’t pick one and let fete and popular opinion dictate. It would be a one way of guaranteeing community “ownership”, ‘cos they named them!!

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Chop's Roar profile

    Chop said  | July 17th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment

    How about the Gold Coast Schoolies? Toolies?

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment

    It’s a tough gig – coming up with sporting nick names in the modern era? Why? Because there are zillions of professional sporting teams, and virtually every noun in the English language has now been used up ten times over.

    But here’s my list of my favourite nick names for new sporting teams from the past 20 years or so:

    ACT Brumbies – for a team based in the Canberra region that has its fair share of 1900 metre peaks, snow, and the occasional wild horse – it was just about the perfect nick name of the modern era – not to mention that it suits the game (and the early version of the Brumbies knew how to run with ball in hand) – absolutely beats the hell out of the Broncos – a terrible nick name to this day.

    Rebels – the short lived Vic rugby side, suited the context in every respect beautifully – Eureka flag anyone??

    Dockers – once again, suited the context, came with very imaginative colour scheme, the name is so good, many regional teams have now taken it up

    Thunderbirds – full marks for sense of humour!!

    Titans – invokes that movie – The Clash of the Titans – and that’s a pretty good description of league

    As for the A-League – sorry, no favourites, the Jets isn’t too bad, I didn’t take immediately to the Victory, but the introduction of the Big V won me over – I actually like the names of the supporter groups, e.g. the Marinators.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brian said  | July 17th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment

    How about
    Gold Coast Bears (bring the bear back to Carrara)
    Gold Coast Koalas (cause thats what the Bear looked like)
    Gold Coast Pokies (could suit the sponsor)
    Gold Coast Mermaids (bikini maids)
    Gold Coast Heat (like Miami)
    The Jupiters Casino FKP AMP Gold Coast

  •   Boo Cheers

    Simmo said  | July 17th 2009 @ 10:22am | Report comment

    To quote Timmypig on the Roar yesterday:

    “The team nickname is something that should grow organically from the fan base, not as a result of a study done by some BBus (Marketing) drop out cocaine snorting advertising agency numpty who doesn’t even like sport.”

    I think the Gold Coast made the right decision not to give the team a nickname just yet. Let it grow, see what happens, what culture develop,etc.

    right on, Redb. I will be eternally grateful to the founders of Sydney FC that they didn’t bother with a nickname when the club was formed. Look at some of the atrocious names that have cropped up in the A-League: Roar, Fury. I’m glad we dodged a bullet and just ended up being known as the Sky Blues by default.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Chop's Roar profile

    Chop said  | July 17th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment

    Simmo you know what other teams reckon the FC stands for in Sydney FC ? :-) That’s another Sydney nickname

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 10:38am | Report comment

    Simmo,

    I reckon they might end up being known just as the ‘Coasters’. (although hopefully not in the way they play)

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers

    sheek said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment

    If we’re being serious, it ought to have a connection with surf, sun, sand & socialising (we won’t mention the sex).

    The rugby team have a good one – Breakers. Not only refers to the surf on the coast, but the practice of training horses in the hinterland. Thus something for both the coast & hinterland.

    Central Coast rugby also came up with a good one – Rays. A double play on stingrays for the coastal dwellers, & sun’s rays for the hinterland folk.

    Anyway, I like Marlins as a starting point.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment

    One good thing about allowing the Gold Coast to grow a nick name organically will be to break the modern trend of having the nick name included in the official name of the team, e.g.

    West Coast Eagles
    Adelaide Crows
    Port Power
    Canberra Raiders
    Western Bulldogs (in its modern format)
    etc

    With the traditional Victorian teams, the official club name is never, ever, ever coupled with the nick name.

    It’s either Carlton or the Blues, never the Carlton Blues.
    It’s either St Kilda or the Saints (or sainters), it’s never the St Kilda Saints.
    It’s either Collingwood or the Magpies (or pies or maggies) it’s never the Collingwood Magpies.
    It’s either Essendon or the Bombers (or the Dons) it’s never the Essendon Bombers.
    It’s either Geelong or the Cats (or once upon a time, the handbags), it’s never the Geelong Cats.
    etc
    etc

    If the Gold Coast spends the first five years or more, simply known as the Gold Coast, any nick name that emerges thereafter will be forever de-coupled from the official name, like the traditional clubs – and that’s a good thing.

    So Gold Coast it is. If it takes 10 years for a nick name to emerge – all the better.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Allen said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment

    Gold Coast Burners.

    Fits in with Beach / Sun theme.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:41am | Report comment

    Pip,

    Good points I agree.

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Kazama's Roar profile

    Kazama said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment

    Pip, at the start of last season I think Port Adelaide announced that it wished to be known as either Port Adelaide or “The Power”, not Port Power or Port Adelaide Power. Part of their attempt to reconnect with their ‘history.’

    I’d like the Gold Coast just to be known as “Gold Coast” for now, but I seriously doubt that Andrew Demetriou would allow that. If I had to pick a name, I’m with Redb, it’s either Rays or Marlins.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Albert Ross said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:50am | Report comment

    Isn’t the Australian way for a football team’s nick name to grow organically, naturally and be derived from their community, team colours and player make up.

    No? Oh wait that’s right that’s the way they used to do it. Now they are in the hands of the mad marketers (like the rest of sports in Australia) and a crass nick name ideally with an American ethos is de rigueur.

    How about about the “Meter maids”, or the “Hinterlands” or “Canal estates” or “Sunrisers”?

  •   Boo Cheers

    Tifosi said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment

    pip,

    unfortunately teams need a nickname so they can force parents to spend stupid amounts of money on merchandise which is becoming a bigger revenue stream for the AFL ( hence the new “away” shirts in the AFL, when for 100 years it wasnt needed)

    Personally i hate teams that incorporate the nickname in the title. Sounds too American.

    I like the scenario of say Manchester Utd Football Club official title but the Red devils nickname. Like some AFL clubs do also.

    Anyway how bout Gold Coast Meter Maids anyone? Probably the “Bears” is a good shot.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Albert Ross said  | July 17th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment

    Transplants?

    Blow-ins?

    Tsunamis?

    Bomboras?

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment

    Tifosi
    it’s true that marketing now rules the roost – but as you can see from your examples – you don’t necessarily need an official nick name to sell stacks of merchandising!!

  •   Boo Cheers

    Tom said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment

    Pip, I like your analysis.

    Unfortunately, the problem with letting a nickname ‘evolve’ is that right from the start the Gold Coast AFL team will have to find a way to brand themselves in a market that already includes NRL and A-league teams. The nickname is the easiest way to do that.

    I reckon ‘Stingrays’ is the best balance between Gold Coast identity and AFL traditionalism.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Michael C's Roar profile

    Michael C said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:04pm | Report comment

    Announcing the Gold Coast Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boys.

    or, the ‘Wompies’ for short,

    (reminds me of the Lindenow South Swamp Rats, or Swampies for short).

    Tifosi -

    especially when you have crazed situations like a couple of weeks ago with Hawthorn wearing an away jumper vs the Eagles, only thing being that it looked almost exactly like the jumper the Eagles were wearing. GROOAAAN!!!!!

    I’ll teach my kids, instead of a new one each year, just look after an old one and treasure it …… I just wish I still had my old North Melb ‘Budget’ sponsored training jumper from about 23 years ago.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Albert Ross said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:05pm | Report comment

    Tom, Tom have you for forgotten our own dear Steve Irwin so quickly. Think of poor Bindi. Everything that name was used she’d be brought to tears.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment

    Tom

    that’s an interesting question – it is imperative for a team starting from scratch in what will be a competitive sporting market? (some might say saturated)

    I think it’s a fair enough point, especially when the A-League team will be known simply as Gold Coast United (traditional in the extreme), and the Titans are already so well established and are household names.

    Either way, it’s very important that the name comes from the fans – although from what I understand, views are quite wide and disparate at the moment.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment

    Tom,

    I dont think the branding compared to other codes is a problem. Gold Coast United is as straight forward as Gold Coast Football Club. The Titans branding is brilliant but not necessarily a problem for the new AFL team.

    Nicknames are only so important to the fans. Having attended RL SOO 1 at Etihad, most were chanting just “Queenslander:” or “New South Wales” So just “Gold Coast” will work.

    AR,

    If GC just use Rays instead of Stingrays it shouldn’t offend poor Bindi’s sensibilities.

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers

    Tifosi said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment

    Pip no you dont need a nickname but you need some sort of animal/symbol in the logo so people can start a nickname

    But Sporting Names in this country now rarely reflect any history on the part of the team. I mean what does the TITANS have to do with the Gold Coast or the POWER in Adelaide? Or the RAIDERS in canberra?

    I like the Carlton Football Club – The Blues scenario. No tacky animal or symbol. Great badge.

    Reminds me of my favorite team Football Club Internazionale Milano – the Nerazzuri (black-blues). Somehow though in Italian it sounds better. Similar badge as well.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Kazama's Roar profile

    Kazama said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment

    Redb

    I’ve noticed down here the Crows fans tend to chant “Adelaide” while Port Adelaide fans tend to chant “Power.”

    I don’t think there’s anything wrong with just being “Gold Coast;” the merch will still sell, the fans will still cheer.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brett McKay said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment

    Redb, for the Gold Coast it might be a problem, and for the very reason you’ve touched on. Currently, the AFL team will be/is known as Gold Coast Football Club. The new A-League team is Gold Coast UNITED Football Club. Both will be trying to use “Gold Coast” on its own (and further, just “United” seems to have been adopted by the AU fans).

    I like the idea of letting the nickname evolve, but it could get confusing with two “Gold Coast”s there. Some point of difference seems needed..

    Allen suggested Gold Coast Burners above – Gold Coast Melanomas, to send the sun smart message?? (or is it Melanomii??)

  •   Boo Cheers

    Tifosi said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment

    Well Gold Coast in the A-league was going to be known as the Galaxy.

    That was before Clive Palmer came in with his billions and took over though

  •   Boo Cheers
    View GeneralAshnak's Roar profile

    GeneralAshnak said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment

    AUFC fans have adobted United as it suits the history of the club, GCU fans are trying to usurp it – and I don’t understand why? They were never a divided locale in the first place. As for a nick name for a team, I agree it needs to be organic – including it in the title results in it not being a nickname. Hence I refer to all HAL clubs by the team initials (the only two I have thought differently about is NJ and AUFC, ie the Jets and United).

  •   Boo Cheers

    WA said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment

    Torpedoes is very phallic. Suits the Gold Coast.

    I thought the Western Force was a stupid name. Now I love it, couldn’t imagine anything else.

    Pick something good & stick with it.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:46pm | Report comment

    Tifosi
    It’s interesting how the Italians make a nick name out of the colours, or colour combinations. So the nerazzuri is a classic example. I also know they’ll make nick names out of the designs of the shirts too (checks, stripes, etc).

    Palermo is known as the rosanero (pink-blacks) – one of the most fantastic shirt designs/combos ever in any sport.

    You probably know that a lot of clubs have an animal in their logo (like a horse, or bull, or eagle in the case of Palermo), but they rarely actually call themselves after that animal – although in the case of the Sicilian clubs, it does actually happen (Palermo are also known as l’aquile and Catania as Gli elefanti).

    Catania are also the rossazzuri (red-blues) and the Etnei (the Etneans, after the volcano).

    Often, where a nick name has emerged, it’s something completely different to what we’re used to – like La vecchia signora – or the grand old lady – of Juve. But they also have a number of other nick names, including: I bianconeri (white-blacks), la fidanzata d’Italia (Italy’s girlfriend); le Zebre (the Zebras – also to be found in some aussie rules clubs), and the head-scratching La Signora Omicidi (the lady killer) – perhaps named after some notorious latin lovers?

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment

    Brett
    I imagine you’re familiar with the 11am Saturday sports show on 666.

    This discussion reminds me of a funny story.

    A few years back when Canberra was putting in a combined Canaberra/AIS netball team into the national netball comp, the show ran a bit of a comp to get ideas for the name of the new team (which ultimately became the Darters).

    At the time, the netball league had a theme around using the names of birds as emblems.

    Canberra is home to many, many types of birds, so absolutely everyone had a thought on which bird should be used as the emblem.

    A netballing official, a woman, was also sitting in, and taking calls.

    An old bloke rang in, a self confessed bird lover, and innocently put forward the suggestion: the gang-gangs.

    The netballing official immediately, firmly and unreservedly said that there was no way in the world the new team would ever be called the gang-gangs.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Michael C's Roar profile

    Michael C said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment

    Brett McKay -

    at least GCUFC and GCFC play non-concurrent seasons – - if it were the NRL and AFL situation, but, at this stage, the ‘Titans’ have managed to establish themselves as just that.

    Won’t GCU possibly become just known as ‘United’??

    What I reckon they need to do is confirm the SONG first, and then make the nickname fit to that.

    The thing about Aust Footy that’s more important than the actual nickname is the song…………alas, the Dockers have a crap song, the EAgles a crap song, the Power a crap song, the Lions rescued themselves by adopting the Fitzroy song. The Crows is pretty good (although in ‘98, oh how I learned to hate it).

  •   Boo Cheers

    Albert Ross said  | July 17th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment

    Where’s the punch line Pip?

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brian said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:00pm | Report comment

    RedB It would be very un-AFL like to let the name develop. Semantically many games are refered to as Eagles v Swans or Pies v Cats etc. In fact until last year NM dropped North Melbourne and the official AFL fixture had Sydney v Kangaroos. Plus there are mascots at AFL games, whats the poor dude supposed to dress up as?

  •   Boo Cheers

    Laocoön said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment

    Trojan Horses?

  •   Boo Cheers

    captain nemo said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:14pm | Report comment

    Gold Coast Budgie smugglers

  •   Boo Cheers

    BigAl said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment

    I wouldn’t totally rule out . . . The Gold Coast Kangaroos !!!!!!!

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Michael C's Roar profile

    Michael C said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment

    Brian -

    didn’t mean we liked it – ‘Kangaroos’ instead of ‘North Melbourne’.

    In part, it can come back to the song – - when they tried to change from “North Melbourne’s on the ball” to “The Kanga’s are on the ball”, nah!!!!, that just didn’t wash.

    Whereas, Essendon, their song is “See the bombers fly up…..”

    re Mascots – is the surf lifesaver dude going to stick??

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Michael C's Roar profile

    Michael C said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment

    BigAl -

    you’re probably not far off the mark.

    Many of us speculate that Tassie will be a sure thing within 10 years, to replace at least one club that merges into either GC17 or WS18, and brings a bit of ‘history’ ….

    ….and a club song.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:27pm | Report comment

    GC Melanomas or budgie smugglers. :-)

    Brian,

    GC have a mascot its a larger than life somewhat wierd looking lifesaver – fine for the kiddies. I’m TV presenters wikll work it out. How often do you see a mixture in many sports, soemtines even in the ladder. Cats v Pies is incorrect anyway.

    Take your point, they need to be somethign eventually. Coasters may work in the interim?

    Tifosi,

    look mate you can pick anyone you like except the stinking tanking cheats at Carlton.

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:29pm | Report comment

    Kazama,

    I agree, Gold Coast is two words so its chantable.

    Big Al,

    There is no way the Kangaroos will end up on the GC, WS maybe?

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers

    WA said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment

    The Blues is easily the best nickname in the AFL.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:39pm | Report comment

    I hate to admit it, but it’s a good club song to.

    AR
    I don’t do jokes – only anecdotes.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brett McKay said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:40pm | Report comment

    Nice one Pip – that ABC show with Tim Gavel is very good, don’t get to listen to it very much unfortunately.

    I can’t believe you didn’t bite at Gold Coast Mexicans – especially when I let you retell your Linda Blair joke…..

    Has eveyone heard Pip’s Linda Blair joke?!?!

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brett McKay said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment

    Has everyone heard Pip’s Linda Blair anecdote then??

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:53pm | Report comment

    Pip,

    Next Bulldogs v Carlton game if the Blues win I’m going to replay it 50 times. It’s a shit club song, Tigers, Bris Lions much better.

    Redb

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment

    yeh – tiggers and lions is pretty good.

    In fact, all the older songs (based on military or broadway songs) are pretty good.

    All the new ones, without exception, are crap.

    Brett
    don’t tempt me – you know I don’t need much encouragement to pull out my Linda Blair gag!!

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Kazama's Roar profile

    Kazama said  | July 17th 2009 @ 2:08pm | Report comment

    I think the Freo song would have to be the worst club anthem in the history of sport.

    Western Bulldogs’ song makes me cringe every time I hear it, and Port and West Coast’s are awful as well.

    (And no, Gold Coast marketing department, this is not an open invitation for you to make an abomination of your own)

  •   Boo Cheers

    Timmypig said  | July 17th 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment

    Perhaps the “Olympians” – after all, the Titans were overthrown and imprisoned by the Olympians in the far depths of the underworld …..

    Sorry – couldn’t help myself.

  •   Boo Cheers

    captain nemo said  | July 17th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment

    GC Zinc

  •   Boo Cheers

    beaver fever said  | July 17th 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment

    CARN THE TORPIES , sounds OK to me.

  •   Boo Cheers

    tifosi said  | July 17th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment

    red b

    Bring a hawthorn supporter i hate the new Hawks logo, The team name should be on the logo not just the nickname. Give me the old shield logo’s from the 80’s anyday.

    Clubs do it to try and get bigger support interstate but i dont think it works. Lets Leave the traditional names. Bring back footscray as well.

    Michael C

    As for the away jerseys, i dont know what can clash with yellow and brown, not much. Just be lucky you dont live in England where soccer clubs change shirts virtually every minute and now have the “third” jersey as well just to suck more money from working class parents.

    Dont the lions use the french national anthem for its music? Gold Coast should use the italian one then !! Its a beauty (Im bias of course).

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment

    Tifosi

    speaking of anthems, you probably know that during the English internationals, the fans do the bit in the middle: dah dah dah dah daaaaah!!!!

    A couple of times I’ve written on the Victory forum to do a song based on God Save the Queen that would have the dah dah dah dah daaaaahhh bit, to which would follow:

    Bold and Victorious!!!!

    The hairs are already standing up on the back of my neck!!

    Re the Torpedoes.

    Not bad, but very few nick names have three syllables.

    One attraction is that it shortens quite nicels to the Torps.

    Which reminds me – 70 metre torps? Bring it back!!!

  •   Boo Cheers

    tifosi said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:05pm | Report comment

    pip

    I also recall when inter used a snake on their logo they were referred to as il biscione. But generally you are right colors are what determines the nickname generally in italy. Thats why i think Carlton has it right here in Australia.

  •   Boo Cheers

    chemosa said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment

    I agree with some others, GOLD COAST SURF, only problem is, it will be easy fodder for the press headlines.

    “Gold Coast Surf Board supports Coach ” etc.

    Therefore I think GOLD COAST BREAKERS or GOLD COAST ROLLERS>

  •   Boo Cheers

    tifosi said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:09pm | Report comment

    Pip

    Its the Australian way to abbreviate anyones name to as short as possible!!

    So we have the Magpies but people shorten it to the pies. Classic.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Brian said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment

    Thinking of the Kangaroos maybe GC should be called the Dragons or Pandas. This could prove useful in the year 2166 when the WFL relocates them to China.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:15pm | Report comment

    Bay City Rollers anyone?

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:15pm | Report comment

    …bye bye baby…baby good bye….

  •   Boo Cheers

    Art Sapphire said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment

    GOLD COAST BEACH BUMS
    GOLD COAST SURFIES
    GOLD COAST SURFSIDE BOGANS
    GOLD COAST SURF ‘N TURF (mmm… thats made me hungry)

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment

    Brian
    I think you’re onto something – a 150 year old game should definitely be looking at the next 150 years.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Art Sapphire said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment

    With sea levels rising due to global warming the Gold Coast team should be named.

    The Gold Coast Snorkellers.

    if things get really bad they can always change it to the Gold Coast Deep Sea Divers.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Michael C said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:35pm | Report comment

    Art S..-

    the Gold Coast RSL

    Tifosi -

    problem was, Eagles had a number with front of jumper being blue, white and yellow with a little ‘eagle’,

    and Hawthorn turned up with a number with the front of the jumper being brown, white and yellow with a little ‘hawk’.

    How that got throught as avoiding a clash?!?!??!

  •   Boo Cheers
    View hazey.the.bear's Roar profile

    hazey.the.bear said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment

    How could noone have picked “The Gold Coast Retirees”?

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Redb's Roar profile

    Redb said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:54pm | Report comment

    GC Surf ‘n’ Turf works on a few levels. :-)

  •   Boo Cheers

    Art Sapphire said  | July 17th 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment

    The old age theme is a good one –

    Gold Coast Geriatrics, Gold Coast Old Bags, Gold Coast Pensioners.

    They will be sponsored by Viagra.

    Then they can also call themselves.

    The Gold Coast Hard-Ons (Oops!) :)

  •   Boo Cheers

    reds fan said  | July 17th 2009 @ 4:25pm | Report comment

    having grown up there here are some suggestions while I want for 4.30pm on a Friday to come so I can flee the office. so serious, some not. you guess.
    GC Heat
    GC Sun
    GC Highway – runs the length of the joint.
    GC Highrise
    GC Skyline
    GC Holiday’s
    GC Skanks
    GC Pointbreaks
    GC Strip
    GC Boys (which is simple but actually my favourite, not quite a mascot)
    GC Sunnyboys (copyrght issues perhaps)(TOP BAND!)
    GC Fun

  •   Boo Cheers

    reds fan said  | July 17th 2009 @ 4:26pm | Report comment

    some serious, some not. i meant … doh! half asleep here…..

  •   Boo Cheers

    reds fan said  | July 17th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment

    one last one… GC Bouncers

  •   Boo Cheers

    macavity said  | July 17th 2009 @ 7:16pm | Report comment

    Aren’t they already called the Gold Coast Gazzas?

  •   Boo Cheers

    Ian Jessup said  | July 17th 2009 @ 8:18pm | Report comment

    What about:
    The White Shoe Brigade
    The Bad Tans
    The Cheap Motels
    The Meter Maids
    The High Rises

  •   Boo Cheers
    View AndyRoo's Roar profile

    AndyRoo said  | July 17th 2009 @ 8:54pm | Report comment

    Engaging the gold coast spirit of making a buck their nickname should be

    “your product here”

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 17th 2009 @ 9:04pm | Report comment

    I actually like the Sunnyboys – buy the copyright I say!!

    Also reminds me of a favourite frozen from when I was a kid – do they still exist???

  •   Boo Cheers

    Laocoön said  | July 18th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment

    Gold Coast CEDs (Canal Estate Developments)
    ” ” White Shoes
    ” ” Bitous (because they are a introduced invasive species that first became a pest in Victoria)
    ” ” Carpetbaggers

  •   Boo Cheers

    Laocoön said  | July 18th 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment

    Pip – they are on my daughter’s public primary school’s canteen menu. Very popular in first and fourth terms.

  •   Boo Cheers

    Koala Bear said  | July 18th 2009 @ 11:16am | Report comment

    “The tax-payer’s funded barnacles”….

    ~~~~~~~~~
    KB

  •   Boo Cheers

    Albert Ross said  | July 18th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment

    Whist we are on the topic of silly team names we should take a moment an dip our lids to the all time champs the Connecticut Bicentennials of the NASL (Atlantic Conference, Northern Division).

    Apparently they couldn’t live with the shame of this name subsequently becoming the Stompers when they moved to Oakland. Irrelevant but not quite as daft.

    So whatever silly name the AFL marketers come up with for the GC it probably won’t rank up there with that of the shortlived team from New Haven (there’s a limerick lurking in there).

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 18th 2009 @ 12:27pm | Report comment

    There was a shortlived team from New Haven
    Who offered a name the fans weren’t cravin’
    They moved to Oakland
    Now they’re smokin’
    Stompin’ sumfin amazin’!!

  •   Boo Cheers

    Albert Ross said  | July 19th 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment

    Jeez Pip

    I take it all back.

    Brilliant.

  •   Boo Cheers
    View Pippinu's Roar profile

    Pippinu said  | July 19th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment

    do you wanna hear my Linda Blair gag??

  •   Boo Cheers

    American Footy Fan said  | August 1st 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment

    OK, the “Sharks” are taken.
    What about the “Hammerheads”?

  •   Boo Cheers

    AFL Is Mad said  | August 15th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment

    Gold Coast Sharks or Gold Coast Suns i reckon sharks be best one

  •   Boo Cheers

    Dave said  | August 15th 2009 @ 1:06pm | Report comment

    gold coast hunters

  •   Boo Cheers

    Nicko said  | October 15th 2009 @ 5:42pm | Report comment

    Speedo’s
    (Budgie) Smugglers and the white collar crooks up there

  •   Boo Cheers

    Mark said  | December 5th 2009 @ 10:35am | Report comment

    How about the Gold Coast Pirates!! Pirates clap clap clap Pirates clap clap clap.

Have your Say

If you like this article, Subscribe! Subscribe to our daily email

Please be sure to enter your name and email before submitting this comment. Please also refer to our comments policy

 

Hot debate

What you're Roaring!

By signing up to the daily The Roar email you'll receive all the new articles and sports opinion that we put up on the website each day - delivered direct into your inbox. For free. We think it's the best way to receive our content.

Our emails contain the article along with the images - just like on the website.