THE GOLD Coast Football Club’s list has taken further shape with the announcement of two more signings ahead of the new franchise’s entry to the AFL competition in 2011.
A week after signing Karmichael Hunt from rugby league, the club has turned its attention to 17-year-olds by adding two young Victorians to its 2010 squad.
TAC Cup players Matt Shaw (Dandenong Stingrays) and Western Jets midfielder Trent McKenzie have both joined the Gold Coast under the AFL’s rule permitting the club to sign 12 players born between January and April 1992.
The two latest recruits bring the number of Gold Coast-bound 17-year-olds to four, with the club able to swoop on another eight by the end of the season.
Tasmanian recruits Maverick Weller and Luke Russell joined the club late last month as part of the Gold Coast’s pre-draft rights on 17-year olds.
Shaw and McKenzie will join the current GCFC squad in the elite development program at Carrara’s Gold Coast Stadium in November.
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said Shaw possessed sure ball-handling skills and the agility and endurance to play forward, back or in the midfield.
“He has a penetrating kick, shows courage overhead and the much needed decision making skills to be a top AFL prospect,” he said.
McKenzie, a graduate of the AFL AIS program, has impressed across half back or on the ball for the Jets this season.
“He has a huge left foot kick, a high leap and raw pace and is a talented AFL prospect who will continue to grow over time,” McKenna said.
“He is the quickest player over 20m to come through the AIS program this year (2.84 seconds).
“They are both impressive young men who have an appetite for the hard work required to give them every opportunity to play AFL football in 2011.”
A week after signing Karmichael Hunt from rugby league, the club has turned its attention to 17-year-olds by adding two young Victorians to its 2010 squad.
TAC Cup players Matt Shaw (Dandenong Stingrays) and Western Jets midfielder Trent McKenzie have both joined the Gold Coast under the AFL’s rule permitting the club to sign 12 players born between January and April 1992.
The two latest recruits bring the number of Gold Coast-bound 17-year-olds to four, with the club able to swoop on another eight by the end of the season.
Tasmanian recruits Maverick Weller and Luke Russell joined the club late last month as part of the Gold Coast’s pre-draft rights on 17-year olds.
Shaw and McKenzie will join the current GCFC squad in the elite development program at Carrara’s Gold Coast Stadium in November.
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said Shaw possessed sure ball-handling skills and the agility and endurance to play forward, back or in the midfield.
“He has a penetrating kick, shows courage overhead and the much needed decision making skills to be a top AFL prospect,” he said.
McKenzie, a graduate of the AFL AIS program, has impressed across half back or on the ball for the Jets this season.
“He has a huge left foot kick, a high leap and raw pace and is a talented AFL prospect who will continue to grow over time,” McKenna said.
“He is the quickest player over 20m to come through the AIS program this year (2.84 seconds).
“They are both impressive young men who have an appetite for the hard work required to give them every opportunity to play AFL football in 2011.”