The Gold Coast SUNS has announced it will contribute financially to an AFL-wide flood relief effort.

The initiative, launched by the AFL earlier this week, is set to raise well in excess of $500,000 for those in affected regions.

Gold Coast CEO Travis Auld said helping victims of the worst flooding seen in the region in decades was essential.

“This is a genuine crisis in our home state,” he said. “The effects on communities and local economies will be huge for a significant period.”

“AFL is a sport that binds communities and we are very much a community club. We take our commitment to the Queensland community extremely seriously and we are delighted to be able to contribute. Community is at the core of our reason for being, and as a member-owned club this is effectively our members contributing to the appeal through their club. It is times like these when everyone needs to pitch in to help.”

One Gold Coast SUNS player who was particularly happy to hear of the club’s willingness do its bit is talented young ruckman Zac Smith.

Smith was raised in Rockhampton, one the worst hit areas.

He said the rain he experienced during his visit back home over Christmas was nothing short of phenomenal.

“In the time I was there it never really rained that much. That said it doesn’t really need to rain in Rocky for the place to flood. Often it’s water from out Emerald way that makes its way down. But this time around it was something else. I’ve definitely never seen the river so full. It was an incredible sight. It’s already a big river but it was just fully rushing through. In the end I was lucky to get on a plane south. The airport was pretty much underwater not long after I left.”

Smith was hearing plenty of stories from his hometown. Thankfully, most involved successful communal efforts to save homes and infrastructure.

“One of my good mates plays Rugby League for Brothers back home and the clubhouse was basically sitting there waiting to be swamped. Apparently the boys got together and had a couple of pumps flown in and bagged sand all night and made a wall. Just as well they did because the river water’s now up against what they built. In the end they saved their club.”

Smith was delighted the club was pitching in with the relief effort.

“There’s going to be plenty of people suffering,” he said. “It’s great the club has stood up and jumped on board and is doing something about it.”