GOLD COAST has used the AIS/AFL Academy's tour of South Africa to identify its next batch of players to head north from 2010.

Coach Guy McKenna and assistant coach Marcus Ashcroft conducted interviews with some of the best under-17 talent in attendance.

The club can sign 12 players born between January 1 and April 30, 1992 and McKenna said it was likely to recruit as many as it could from the tour group.

"There were only about 10 of those boys [of eligible age] over there so there’s a good percentage of those boys in that bracket that will probably end up coming to the Gold Coast," McKenna told afl.com.au.

McKenna said the interviews had highlighted strong individual qualities to complement football ability, with a player's character of great importance.

"We know they can play – that’s why they’re at the AIS – but given the program and the structure at the AIS, they’re certainly manufacturing and turning out good citizens as well," McKenna said.

"That’s what we want on the Gold Coast."

While some players had been told they were under consideration, McKenna said the interviews were as much about selling the club to the players and their families.

He said the biggest decision in their football careers had to be an educated and informed one.

"How does [joining the Gold Coast] impact the boys potentially at school? There’s a whole host of things their family need to get their heads around," he said.

"We knew the name on the paper but just wanted to get a face behind the name and introduce ourselves and sell the club and the culture of the Gold Coast, and the environment, the weather. All those types of things I think are important," he said.

McKenna is yet to watch a DVD of the players' victory over WAFL side Peel Thunder, registered at Subiaco Oval on Anzac Day, but believes it will help determine strengths and weaknesses in potential recruits.

He said a series of physical and psychological tests would be conducted before formal offers were made.

Highly-rated eligible players include Victorian defender Joshua Toy, Tasmanian midfielder Luke Russell and Steven May, a versatile Northern Territory recruit who now attends Melbourne Grammar.

Gold Coast is currently competing in the TAC Cup under-18 competition and will graduate to the VFL in 2010.

It has a provisional licence to become to become the AFL's 17th club in 2011.

Eligible players on AIS/AFL Academy tour of South Africa

Maverick Weller
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
February 13, 1992180cm79kgBurnie Dockers

Haydyn Jolly
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
April 4, 1992182cm85kgGlenelg/PHOS Camden

Joshua Toy
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
April 18, 1992183cm85kgCalder/Aberfeldie

Luke Russell
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
January 24, 1992184cm72kgBurnie Dockers

Trent McKenzie
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
April 3, 1992188cm72kgWestern/Williamstown

Jack Hutchins
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
February 20, 1992191cm87kgSandringham/Haileybury

Lucas Cook
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
March 3, 1992194cm78kgN/A

Alex Keath
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
January 20, 1992197cm82kgMurray/Shepparton Bears

Tom Nicholls
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
March 4, 1992200cm88kgSandringham/Cheltenham

Rhys Mott
D.O.BHeightWeightClub
March 7, 1992179cm74kgUlverstone