THE NEW Gold Coast side has its fifth player, with GC17 signing 18-year-old Queenslander Jack Stanley.

Stanley, a 192cm tall, hails from Zillmere Eagles in the AFLQ and joins Jesse Haberfield, Jack Stanlake, Zac Smith and Charlie Dixon as pioneering Gold Coast players.

He said it was a tough decision to bypass this year's NAB AFL Draft and commit to the Gold Coast.

"With the draft you always really nervous with whether you are going to be taken or not. But with the Gold Coast, you know you have a spot and they are there to help you so it is good," Stanley told gc17.com.au.

"It was a tough decision. I had to go home and think about it for a while because I wasn’t really sure what to do. I am sure every other boy who received a contract had a tough decision as well."

But Stanley said the opportunity to have three years with Gold Coast and play with his mates convinced him to remain at home.

"I have played with all the other guys during the year. I am a bit nervous but I am really excited. It is such a big move to go interstate and move in with a family you don’t really know, but here you know the other guys so it will be great fun," Stanley said.  

"I just decided it was best for my development. I’ve still got a lot to learn and a long way to go and the chance to stay in Queensland and work at it was an awesome opportunity."

Stanley, the son of a former Victorian baseballer, represented the under-16 Queensland team in 2006. He was also in the mix to play for the Scorpions at under-18 level, until knee problems occurred.