Michael Coad poses for a portrait during the Gold Coast Football Club 2010 team photo day at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara.
New AFL franchise Gold Coast insist they have already secured several quality players from other clubs and are frustrated those names must stay private until later this year.
Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff said on Friday that club executives were lamenting a player announcement gag slapped on the club until at least September.
And their frustration is only expected to grow after they received a recruitment drive update at a board meeting on Thursday night.
Witheriff’s claim came after Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs became the latest star to sign an extended deal with his existing club after being linked with the Coast, who join the competition in 2011.
To date, the biggest name announced by Gold Coast has been former NRL player Karmichael Hunt, who flew into Australia on Friday after a successful stint in French rugby.
However, Witheriff assured the doubters that they were assembling a quality list – it’s just they won’t be able to unveil it publicly for another four months.
“We have a plan that we put together well over 12 months ago,” Witheriff said on the Gold Coast.
“We had a board meeting last night and received an update on that plan and I have to say we are right on track.
“We can’t make any comments, I know that exposes us to speculation.
“It’s unfortunate but there is nothing we can do about that.
“We are looking forward to making some announcements towards … September-October.”
Asked if it was hard to hold their tongue until then, Witheriff said: “I had the opportunity to go away for a day with senior executives the other day and a couple of them were lamenting the fact that it would be lovely to make some comments.
“But at the end of the day, we live within a set of rules, we decided when we bought in that we were going to accept a set of values and we have no difficulty living in that framework.”
Standing next to Witheriff at their Gold Coast press conference, AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said he was “comfortable” with the new franchise postponing player announcements.
“When we set the rules out we knew this (player speculation) would happen – at the moment we are quite comfortable,” he said.
Port defender Nathan Krakouer has become the latest linked to the Gold Coast.
“It’s starting to smell a bit. He’s a good player so I can imagine they (Gold Coast) should be talking to him – that would be my take (on it),” Port coach Mark Williams said on Friday.
“We’re very hopeful to keep him here but who knows?”
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou clearly had no problem with all the Gold Coast speculation.
“I think any publicity is good publicity for this football club given that they are not playing until next year,” he said.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the amount of coverage given to this club to be honest – the speculation is all good fodder.”
Meanwhile, Demetriou drew parallels with Hunt signing with the Gold Coast and Melbourne recruiting Irishman Jim Stynes back in the 1980s.
“I think people ridiculed the great Ron Barassi when he brought Jim Stynes out – he went on to win a Brownlow Medal and become one of our great players,” he said.
“We have seen that with Tadhg Kennelly at the Swans and now we are seeing it with Setanta O’hAilpin who played hurling in Ireland – you can teach people.”
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Mark Robinson said he didn't believe Parker's contact was "nasty" after the Swans midfielder concussed VFL opponent Josh Smith and left him with facial…
Ahead of a friendly with Newcastle, Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham held an open training session at AAMI Park in front of fans.
The Demons star had to give Harley Reid his due after a ruthless fend and goal in West Coast's 35-point win over Melbourne.
Sydney defender Tom McCartin will miss yet another game because of concussion as the Swans take an ultra-conservative approach to his recovery. McCartin will…
It’s the easiest thing in the game to bash North Melbourne but there has got to be some things to like.
Charlie Cameron should take plenty away from kicking five goals in an obliteration of Richmond against the Hawks.
