INCOMING Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane is following in the footsteps of the man he's replacing – making a big call early.

The former V8 Supercars supremo will take over the reins from inaugural chairman John Witheriff after round one next year.

After just two seasons Witheriff famously declared his team would win a premiership within three years.

The three years is up and the Suns went backwards in 2015 with multiple scandals and an injury-destroyed season for skipper Gary Ablett.

But Cochrane appears to share the optimism of the outgoing Witheriff.

"We not only want to be the best club in Queensland, but the best club in Australia," Cochrane told News Corp.

Cochrane comes to the role with experience; having built the Gold Coast based V8 Supercars into an enormous product.

He also sat on the committee that selected Suns coach Rodney Eade, and he's backing him to the hilt.

"I'm a massive, massive believer in 'Rocket','' Cochrane said.

"He will get the right amount of time, the right people and right resources to make sure we are really competitive and really successful.

"I believe you will see a very, very different Gold Coast outfit next season. As a football club, we are in a very different place to when 'Rocket' first walked through the doors."

The Suns finished 16th in 2015, with four wins, one draw and 17 losses.

Gold Coast hosts Essendon at Metricon in round one where the transition of power will be recognised.

The Suns entered the AFL competition in 2011, as the first of two new franchise teams.

The AFL Commission decided to expand into Gold Coast with a standalone side after North Melbourne members rejected a relocation offer.

It prompted the League's governing body to expand the competition to 18 teams, also adding a team from Greater Western Sydney.