The Gold Coast Football Club will take its 2010 games into the local community as it builds for its inaugural AFL year in 2011.
Local supporters will be able to see the team free with nine games played at various locations on the Gold Coast. To promote the club and Australian Football within its recruitment zone, GCFC will also travel to Cairns on July 17 and play the Bendigo Bombers at Cazaly’s Stadium.
The Gold Coast will also celebrate its build to the AFL by hosting a “Football Festival” at Southport Australian Football Club in March. The festival includes a week of football activity book-ended by NAB AFL Challenge games on successive Friday afternoons on March 5 and March 12.
The week will also include a leadership seminar for school students , corporate fun days, members information nights, media luncheon, and football clinics all featuring key Gold Coast Football Club football and administration staff.
The VFL draw released today included five games to be played at the Southport Australian Football Club ground and two games each for the Broadbeach and Labrador football clubs.
VFL is considered the premier football competition outside AFL level and the GCFC will take on iconic clubs such as Geelong and Collingwood at home.
Matches will include curtain raisers from QAFL reserve and state league clubs and half-time games from Gold Coast junior clubs. Entry to the games will be free which will all be played on Saturday afternoons during the season.
GCFC CEO Travis Auld said the club had worked closely with the VFL and local football clubs to provide access for fans to football at all levels.
“We would love all the supporters to come and out and see the Gold Coast Football Club in action. It will be great opportunity to get behind the team and show your support as we take football to a new level in the region. Local clubs will be well represented and fundraising will all go back to the local football community.
“We will have some great contests as our young group of players take on some heavyweight teams in the VFL. It’s going to be tough year as our boys take on the men of the VFL but with the quality of squad and the program the players are going through we are confident we will give it a good shot.”
The Gold Coast Football Club 2010 season draw is as follows:
Round 1 Sat 10 April Port Melbourne Southport
Round 2 Sat 17 April Williamstown Broadbeach
Round 3 Sat 24 April Werribee Chirnside Park
Round 4 Sat 1 May Casey Scorpions Labrador
Round 5 Sat 8 May Bendigo Bombers QE Oval
Round 6 Sat 15 May Geelong Southport
Round 7 Sat 29 May Collingwood Southport
Round 8 Sat 5 June Northern Bullants Visy Parkl
Round 9 Sat 12 June Coburg Tigers Craigieburn
Round 10 Sat 19 June Frankston Broadbeach
Round 11 Sat 3 July Box Hill Hawks Southport
Round 12 Sat 10 July North Ballarat Eureka Stadium
Round 13 Sat 17 July Bendigo Bombers Cairns
Round 14 Sat 24 July Sandringham Labrador
Round 15 Sat 31 July Geelong Skilled Stadium
Round 16 Sat 7 August Casey Scorpions Casey Fields
Round 17 Sat 14 August Werribee Southport
Round 18 Sat 21 August Collingwood Victoria Park
Gold Coast Football Club takes VFL games to local community
The Gold Coast Football Club will take its 2010 games into the local community as it builds for its inaugural AFL year in 2011.