Marcus Ashcroft and Shaun Hart, two of Queensland’s most decorated and experienced AFL players, will help guide the development of the young team under senior coach Guy McKenna.The club’s coaching staff will have a total of 858 senior games and eight AFL premierships between them and will coach the team in the TAC Cup Under 18’s competition next year.

Both new coaches have strong Gold Coast links with Hart living on the Gold Coast for the past 18 years and coaching Broadbeach Football Club in the AFLQ competition this year.

 Ashcroft was born on the Gold Coast and was recruited to the Brisbane Bears from Southport Football Club in 1989.

Hart played 273 games for the Brisbane Lions and was a key member of the 2001, 2002, 2003 Premierships sides winning the Norm Smith Medal for Best on Ground in the 2001 AFL Grand Final.

Ashcroft played 318 games for the Brisbane Lions including three premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He is the games record holder for the Brisbane Lions and is the first non-Victorian to have played 300 games in the AFL.He has been Football Operations Manager for the Brisbane Lions for the past four years.

GC 17 Chairman John Witheriff said both Ashcroft and Hart were outstanding appointments for the fledgling club as they had many years experience playing at an elite AFL level and in various coaching and administration roles.

"Not only do Marcus and Shaun have impeccable records at AFL level, but they are both products of the game in Queensland and have a passionate connection with the Gold Coast" We are very excited by the quality of the coaching group we have been able to attract and they are just as excited about the challenge of taking a young group of players and having the opportunity to develop the team from such a young age.

I’d like to thank the guys for agreeing to join us on our journey as we work towards obtaining the 17th AFL licence.

GC 17 is a Gold Coast group which is bidding for the 17th licence in the AFL competition. The Bid Team delivered its submission to the AFL Commission on October 13.

If successful the new Gold Coast AFL club will prepare a development team and compete in the TAC Cup in 2009 and the VFL in 2010 before entering the AFL in 2011.