THE GOLD Coast consortium has declared it is not satisfied with the draft concession package the League unveiled for its prospective club on Thursday afternoon.
GC17 bid committee member Graeme Downie said his group had concerns the package, developed by a party of AFL and club representatives and approved by the AFL Commission, was not generous enough to allow Gold Coast to hit the ground running in its 2011 AFL debut.
The concessions include nine first round picks in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, an expanded player list and increased salary cap.
He added that Gold Coast should receive more draft picks to allow suitable bargaining chips for trading for the mature players the club will need upon its entry into the competition.
"It's not as good as it looks. We won't be popping any champagne corks," Downie told AAP.
"The rules are fair and we understand the logic of them.
"But what we're concerned about is that we have a maximum of 24 draft concessions. It's a skinny start.
"We would have preferred more draft choices."
The announcement of the concessions encouraged feedback from existing clubs, with Geelong chief executive Brian Cook voicing his support.
"We understand that Gold Coast needs to be given the opportunity to build its list, and that in doing so there will be concessions made for them in the draft that will impact upon us and other clubs," he said in a statement.
"We are supportive of the entry of the Gold Coast team and, in the circumstances, accept the AFL's determination on the matter."
Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos had similar sentiments.
"I think if you're going to bring in a new team it's got to be competitive as possible," he said. "You probably don't want to end on the bottom of the ladder. So it is a balancing act in terms of bringing a new team in.
"Are they fair? Are they not fair? I guess it'll depend on how that team goes in the first couple of years. They have a very good recruiting guy and I'm sure they'll make the most of it."
"This was always going to be a question of balance when it came to draft concessions and the impact they had on the existing teams," added Essendon managing director Peter Jackson.
"From what we have seen today we believe the AFL has achieved that balance in terms of the concessions it has provided the Gold Coast."