Flashback: How the Gold Coast got its own AFL team after Kangaroos pulled out in 2007

THE Gold Coast Suns are hoping 2018 will be their year on field as the city’s AFL team looks back a decade to the day the club’s creation was announced.

THE Gold Coast Suns are back on the field and training again in the hopes of an improved showing in 2018.

With long-time captain and star player Gary Ablett gone and a new coach in place, the team is preparing for what many expect to be a testing year ahead.

This week’s pre-season training comes 10 years after it was confirmed the AFL would create a new team on the Gold Coast.

Gary Ablett has left the Suns.

The announcement came on the back of the North Melbourne Kangaroos deciding to remain in Victoria by turning down the AFL’s $100 million relocation offer.

AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLauchlan spoke to AFL supporters at the Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club and told them a new club would be created in lieu of relocating an existing organisation.

He said the club would be owned by local grassroots fans and would be supported by the Southport Sharks.

Gillon McLachlan.

McLachlan reiterated that the AFL would press ahead with a 17th licence on the Coast by 2011.

“I don’t see today as a negative. I see it as a positive in regards to the future,” he said.

“We will push ahead with plans for a 17th licence on the Gold Coast and hopefully it will be in 2010.

“We are very excited by what the future holds up here and believe a 17th licence will be a success on the Coast.”

AFL bosse, including Andrew Catterall and Gillon McLachlan met with Gold Coast city leaders ahead of the team being announced.

He added the team’s name and strip would be chosen by local fans and the team would be based at either the existing Carrara complex or another site.

The meeting was attended by Kangaroos players, AFL bosses from Melbourne and members of the Coast’s Australian football community.

At the same meeting, McLachlan revealed that an 18th AFL franchise would be created by 2015 for a western Sydney team.

The lack of signed deal to have the old Carrara stadium redeveloped was considered a major hole in the AFL’s bid to relocate the Kangaroos to the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Bulletin’s 2010 front page announcement that Ablett would be coming to the Gold Coast.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou told the Bulletin he was comfortable with the progress of the development plan for the 14,000 seat stadium.

Work progressed quickly form the December 2007 date with the club’s junior team making its debut in 2009 in the Queensland under-18 competition.

The team, which became known as the Gold Coast Suns, made its debut in the AFL in the 2011 season, initially playing out of The Gabba in Brisbane before making its local debut in May that year at the new Metricon Stadium.

Gary Ablett kicking the first goal at Metricon Stadium in May 2011.

The Suns would go on to take out the wooden spoon in their debut year — winning just three matches — and have struggled with consistent form. The club is yet to play finals football.

Now on its third coach, Stewart Dew, the Suns are hoping for a better 2018.