Courtesy of the Gold Coast Bulletin
TRUE BLUEY column with GCFC coach Guy McKenna

THIS Saturday's big VFL match against Collingwood at Southport's Fankhauser Reserve will tell us whether the Gold Coast kids have taken steps, or big strides, forward.

There will be a lot of people there watching and it will be a good match to test the development of our youngsters.
I think it was reported last week when Collingwood played Frankston that there was 848 AFL games of experience playing, including the likes of ruckman and former No.1 draft pick, Josh Fraser.

At GCFC, we have youngsters such as Jack Hutchins, Zac Smith and the rest still developing their skills and they will come up against a very experienced side on Saturday.

No doubt Mick Malthouse will ring and will try to pilfer as much information as he can out of me.

And I have already told my former Magpies, Danny Stanley and Sammy Iles, to throw their phones in the bin to stop the phone calls.

We will certainly need to be on our A-grade game because of the experience of the Collingwood side.
I think the supporters that came out and cheered us over the line two weeks ago would be happy with the way the boys are developing.

Certainly with the boys that have run out for us over the first six weeks, I have been impressed with the way they have been willing to work and push for each other.

We have been thereabouts for three quarters of the game but against Geelong we finished off strongly and won.

It was certainly interesting to pick up my copy of the Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday to see Nick Smart put forward a possible team for Round 1 next season.

I must say I would be very happy with that team.

It was interesting to look at the players on the bench as well as the players who missed out -- I think that is reflective of the quality of the side we will be able to generate next year.

And hopefully the players will pick that team up and realise they are not a walk-up start next year.

That dream team obviously also did not include the picks we will have at this year's AFL national draft, which will include nine out of the first 15 selections.

Assistant coach Ken Hinkley has done his homework and 10 first-round picks from the 2008 draft have already played AFL football.

And eight already from last year's draft have played and it is only early in the season.

Factor that into next year's team as well and it is exciting times ahead.