THE GOLD Coast football club will be aided by AFL great Malcolm Blight, with the Brownlow and Coleman Medallist joining the new franchise's board.

Blight, 59, has agreed to join the club ahead of its entry into the AFL in 2011.

Blight said he was looking forward to a new challenge, having previously held coaching roles with North Melbourne (player-coach), Geelong, Adelaide and St Kilda.

"From what I have seen, and through my discussions with (Gold Coast chairman) John Witheriff and coach Guy McKenna, there is a very exciting and challenging path ahead for the Gold Coast football club," he said.

"To have a role in helping to shape the organisation, its football and administration strategy and its community and cultural values, is different from any of my previous roles in football and a new challenge for me.

"I have been involved in a number of firsts in football as a player and a coach. Now as a director, I want to help create a successful club both on and off the field."

Blight will attend his first board meeting on Tuesday night after spending the day with the club's coaches and players.

Witheriff said it was a coup to secure the dual premiership coach as the club looked ahead to its first season in the AFL.

"He is one of football's all-time champion players not to mention innovative coaches," Witheriff said.

"We are on a journey to become the most exciting sporting club in Australia and Malcolm Blight has always been exciting during his playing, coaching and commentating career.

"To have Malcolm on the Gold Coast football club board ... is a tremendous advantage for us as we build for 2011."

Blight coached Geelong to three grand finals in 1989, 1992 and 1994 before crossing to Adelaide, where he won the 1997 and 1998 premierships. He then coached the Saints for 15 games in 2001, but was infamously sacked midseason.

He has also been a member of the media, commentating with Channel Seven in 1995 and 1996 before joining Channel 10 as an expert commentator in 2005.

His playing accolades include 179 games for North Melbourne, including a player-coach role in 1981, a Brownlow Medal (1978), a Coleman Medal (1982), and a North Melbourne best and fairest award (1978).

He also led North's goal-kicking four times, holds the record for the most number of goals kicked by a North player in a season, and captained Victoria and South Australia during his illustrious career.