The Gold Coast Football Club has gone for experience to add to its young list in today’s AFL Rookie Draft.

GCFC had picks 1-5 in the draft and elected to choose some older and more experienced players to help its talented young group.

Daniel Harris, Michael Coad, Sam Iles, Roland Ah Chee and Daniel Stanley all received two year contracts and will be on the Gold Coast list when it enters the AFL competition in 2011.

GCFC Football Manager Marcus Ashcroft said the club elected to choose more experienced and seasoned players to supplement its talented but young inexperienced list.

“We believe this is the best strategy for the development of our young group by being able to surround them with some bigger bodies for the next couple of years. That has always been our plan for the rookie draft. These blokes are a bit older and a bit bigger and can play straight away.”

The Gold Coast Football Club picks in today’s AFL Rookie Draft:

Daniel Harris

Former North Melbourne mid-fielder Harris played 149 Games with the Kangaroos. He is a tough and courageous midfielder who is regarded as one of the best stoppage players in the competition.

Michael Coad

Recruited from the Sturt Football Club Coad, 26, is a key position prospect that can play at either end of the ground. He enjoyed a successful 2009 season, playing 21 games, including playing in a losing grand final side where he kicked two goals and finished runner up in Sturt’s best and fairest award.

Sam Iles

Iles spent three years with Collingwood in the AFL and played VFL with both Williamstown and Collingwood. Last year he joined Box Hill in the VFL competition where he won the best & fairest and was third in the JJ Liston Medal (VFL B&F).

Roland Ah Chee

Originally from Alice Springs Ah Chee has played for Melbourne Grammar followed by Norwood FC in the SANFL, before returning to NT where he was awarded the Best and Fairest Player at the U18 NT State Championships this year.

Daniel Stanley

Stanley made his Collingwood debut in 2007. A robust midfielder who can also play in defence, Stanley developed into a fine contributor for Williamstown during 2007 after playing the whole season for Collingwood's VFL affiliate in 2006. He played 13 games for the VFL side in 2008 while also earning two senior games.