BY STEPHEN BAKER

A new Gold Coast based club will join Victoria’s TAC Cup competition next year as the AFL prepares for the introduction of a seventeenth team in 2011.

Today’s “The Age” newspaper understands that the AFL will announce the move later today.

Queensland’s most promising junior footballers have been offered two-year deals to play in Victoria’s under eighteen competition from next season rather than nominating for this year’s National Draft.

It is believed that the idea of staying in their home state, while enhancing their potential to play AFL with the expanded team in 2011, was used as a major selling point for the targetted players.

Under the terms of the contracts, players who sign on would be “warehoused” for when the Gold Coast expansion franchise enters the competition.

While a club name and jumper design is yet to be formalised, former Brisbane triple Premiership captain and Brownlow Medalist, Michael Voss, is the frontrunner to be named as coach.

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