THIS time next year, the eyes of the AFL world will be firmly fixed on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Football Club will have nine of the first 15 picks in next year's national draft, including the first three selections, before its inaugural
season in 2011. This year's national draft takes place in Melbourne on Thursday, and will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports.

Gold Coast recruiting guru Scott Clayton, who built the playing lists of Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs, will be a keen observer this week,
knowing the club's every move will be scrutinised closely in a year's time. The Coast has selections one, two, three, five, seven, nine, 11, 13 and 15, as well as the first pick of each round, and has been scouring the country identil 'ing the best players born in 1992.

"There will be two years of hard work and 20 years of experience going into that oneb night," Clayton said.

"Everyone at our club will know who the players are and what we will be getting, so it will be a very exciting night for the Gold Coast.

"Clearly we are after the most talented players, but we also have non-negotiables like character and substance.

"The most important decision you make as a football club is who you bring into it so we will be thorough and methodical.

"Next year's group looks to be pretty good already. We have already guaranteed to take young David Swallow with one of our first three picks, and there's a couple of guys in the AIS/AFL Academy who we will follow closely."

The GCFC have already snared a dozen of the best 17-year-olds under further draft concessions. Clayton said those concessions would have an impact on the quality of this year's draft, where Melbourne is certain to grab Victorian Tom Scully and South Australian Jack Trengove with the first two selections.

Meanwhile, Brisbane's picks in the national draft are 27, 47 and 76, after the club used its higher picks as bait during its aggressive recruitment campaign in trade week.

Former Lions Rhan Hooper, Scott Harding, Jason Roe, Scott Clouston and Matt Tyler have nominated.

Dumped defender Joel Macdonald has nominated for the pre-season draft on December 15.

Article courtesy of Greg Davis, Sunday Mail Brisbane