The Gold Coast SUNS will be creating history against the Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium this weekend, with the fledging expansion club celebrating the 50-game milestone since successfully being granted the 17th AFL Licence to the national competition.

The SUNS have made successful strides on the field with one of the youngest and most talented playing lists in AFL history, all recording more than 10,000 hours in the community during it’s continuous work through the Horizon’s Program partners.

To celebrate the expansion club on reaching the significant milestone, goldcoastfc.com.au gives readers a brief recap into the most historic moments in the SUNS short history.

THE JOURNEY
AFL Establishment
After officially registering the name Gold Coast Football Club Ltd with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on the 24 December 2007, the AFL won the support from each 16 AFL Club President to establish an expansion side on the Gold Coast after North Melbourne declinded a $100 million package to relocate to the tourist capital. The AFL also won the support to expand into the Western Sydney market.

GC17 Bid team
On 22 April 2008, the AFL formally invited business leaders and community representatives from across the Gold Coast to form part of the SUNS board to demonstrate that the AFL licence would have the foundation to build towards sustainable long-term success. The GC 17 Bid Team was led by Minister Ellison Gold Coast managing partner John Witheriff, ex-Brisbane Lions President Graeme Downie, and Southport Football Club President Dr. Alan MacKenzie, CEO of the Gold Coast City Council Dale Dickson and Gold Coast Bulletin Editor-In-Chief Bob Gordon.

TAC Cup
In June, 2008 it was announced that the Gold Coast Football Club would compete in the U18 TAC Cup side for 2009, and then progress into the VFL in 2010.

Administration
On 15 May 2009, it was announced Essendon executive Travis Auld had been appointed as the CEO of the GC17, while former premiership players Shaun Hart and Marcus Ashcroft were appointed to the coaching panel that would eventually appoint GC SUNS senior coach Guy McKenna to the top job.

AFL Debut
After a Round 1 bye, the wait was over for the Gold Coast SUNS as they made their maiden AFL debut against Carlton in front of almost 30,000 fans at the GABBA. It was a tough night for the competition’s new boys, as they went down by 119 points to the AFL powerhouse. Ruck-forward Charlei Dixon kicked the SUNS first ever goal in the AFL.  

GC SUNS Inaugural Team
B: S. Tape, N. Bock, C. Brown
HB: N. Krakouer, K. Hunt, J. Harbrow
C: T. McKenzie, D. Harris, M. Rischitelli
HF: D. Stanley, C. Dixon, A. Magin
F: J. Brennan, Z. Smith, B. Matera
FOLL: J. Fraser, D. Swallow, G. Ablett
I/C: M. Lock, H. Bennell, D. Prestia, J. Toy (Sub)
EMG: M. Weller, D. Gorringe, M. Coad

GC SUNS Inaugural Draft History
- 6x uncontracted AFL players; included Gary Ablett, Nathan Bock, Campbell Brown, Josh Fraser, Jarrod Harbrow, Nathan Krakouer and Michael Rischitelli
- 11x draft picks in the 2010 AFL National Draft
- 12x 17-year-old access selections
- 10x local access selections
- 2x zone selections
- Unregistered 3-year access to Karmichael Hunt
- Traded pick no.5 in the 2010 AFL National Draft for Jared Brennan
- 4x rookie selections

Quick Facts and Figures
- Every GC SUNS player has played a combined total of 1,078 games in the red-and-gold.
- The club has had 42 debutants since 2011, with Jesse Lonergan the latest player to make his first AFL appearance.
- 938,260 members and fans have watched the GC SUNS at Metricon Stadium.
- The Gold Coast SUNS have kicked 496 goals since their debut against Carlton in Round 2 of the 2011 AFL Season.

Top 5 Memorable Moments
1. Karmichael Hunt’s after-the-siren goal
There was no going part midfielder Karmichael Hunt’s after-the-siren goal to sink Richmond’s hopes of playing finals footy, which made national headlines for days after the historic AFL moment. After trailing by 18-points in the final term against the Tigers, the SUNS clawed back into the contest before Hunt provided the fairytale finish that most AFL players could only dream about. Marking the ball inside-50 with three seconds remaining, the code-hopper was cool as ice after marking the short pass from Brandon Matera, and after some encouraging words of wisdom from skipper Gary Ablett, walked comfortably into his set-shot to convert to 30m drop punt at goals at seal the side’s thrilling 2-point victory at Cazaly’s Stadium. The moment was replayed for days throughout talk-back radio and AFL television shows, with a cheeky Guy McKenna telling reporters post-match “It was never in doubt”.

2. GC SUNS win at the inaugual QCLASH against Brisbane
In what was already promising to be a thriller between the two rival cities, the inaugural QCLASH between the Gold Coast SUNS and the Brisbane Lions turned out to be an epic first instalment into the bi-annual classic, with the match going down to the wire before the SUNS came back down the M1 with the 7-point victory. It swingman Jared Brennan who stole the show for the GC SUNS, with the former Lion being awarded the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for his best-on-ground performance in the first-ever Queensland derby.

3. GC SUNS defeat Carlton - The Upset of the Year
The GC SUNS caused the upset of the year in 2012 when they defeated Carlton at Metricon Stadium in Round 22, which resulted in the sacking of then-head coach Brett Ratten. The Blues were solid favourites to take home the premiership points entering into the match, but the home-side took little notice they took a commanding 40-point lead heading into the major break. While the Carlton managed to rally back in the final term, the damage proved too strong as the SUNS took the thrilling 12-point victory in front of more than 15,000 proud SUNS fans. Towering forward Tom Lynch came of age against the visitors, kicking a four-goal haul against the finals contenders.

4. First AFL victory over Port Adelaide
It was a magical moment for the entire administration, coaching panel and playing list when the GC SUNS recorded their maiden AFL victory in thrilling fashion over Port Adelaide in Round 5 of their inaugural season at AAMI Stadium. The fast-finishing Gold Coast SUNS were explosive on the scoreboard in the final term, kicking eight of the last nine goals to steal a 2-point victory as the expansion club belted the team song for the first time in the club’s history. It was the side’s experienced players that sealed it for the SUNS, with Michael Rischitelli (31 disposals), skipper Gary Ablett (26 possessions) and swingman Jared Brennan (23 touches) getting the job done for the visitors. Goal-sneak Brandon Matera proved to be the game-changer however, kicking four goals and impacting multiple scoring opportunities for the contest.

5. GC SUNS first home game at Metricon Stadium  (Round 10)
It was a memorable moment for in attendance Saturday 28 May 2011, as the GC SUNS played their first match against Geelong in a match that tested the crowd capacity at their refurbished home ground at Metricon Stadium The SUNS took it right up to the AFL Heavyweights, leading at the major break before the Cats kicked into another gear and shadowed the bright lights at their new home with the 66-point victory. The match also produced another special AFL moment, with high-profiled recruit Karmichael Hunt kicking a 60m drop punt on the run towards the goals – marking his first goal in the AFL.