Michael Voss can develop an AFL playing list from scratch for the franchise on the Gold Coast, where he appears destined to begin his coaching career.

The AFL great moved a step closer to being appointed coach of the new franchise after meeting with the bid's leaders on Wednesday.

During a four-hour meeting Voss, who played 289 games for Brisbane and captained the club to their 2001-03 premierships, was appointed as a consultant to work on how the franchise's inaugural playing list might be put together.

The bid team - known as GC17 - last month officially applied to be granted the AFL's 17th team licence, in 2011.

Voss has continually been touted the best man to lead the new side given his playing achievements, coaching desire and profile in south-east Queensland.

GC17 head John Witheriff described the meeting as a "useful, positive discussion" and said Voss had agreed to work with the bid team's football committee to consider how it might compile a playing list, which would incorporate the league's mooted draft concessions.

"Michael has agreed to work with those guys and I expect we'll get the benefit of his expertise in assisting us putting together some submissions," Witheriff said.

GC17 has until October to meet the AFL's criteria before it can be granted a license, which also includes other key football-related positions, sponsorship details and a commitment of 20,000 members.

Witheriff said the bid team was yet to consider other appointments - or other coaching candidates - but was confident Voss had been impressed by the bid's game plan.

"Michael shared his thoughts with us and we shared our vision with him," he said.

"He was very pleased with our thinking around our vision and we his as well.

"He would be a good coach and I think he's got great ability.

"It's too early to say (if Voss will get the job), all I know is it has been a very positive afternoon."

Voss' progression with GC17 coincided with some advice to the bid team from Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams, one of the Brisbane Bears' foundation players in 1987.

Williams urged the new franchise to ensure experienced people were appointed to key positions - which would seemingly count against Voss, despite his stellar playing career - to prevent a repeat of the miserable start the Bears had to life in the national competition.

"It didn't help either that the people put in place to run the club, both on and off the field, had little or no experience in AFL football or in the particular position they were given," said Williams in a column on the AFL's website of the Bears' early days.

"Peter Knights was a fantastic ambassador for the club and a great player, but I'm not even sure if he had coached before.

"Just like (inaugural captain) Mark Mickan, who was a wonderful player and person, but had never played a game of AFL prior to coming to Brisbane.

"Straight away there were two people on the match committee, who had had no experience at AFL level in the new roles they were given.

"All these people had the greatest intentions and worked hard, but because the club was built on such an inexperienced foundation, it fell apart after only a few short years.

"New owners came in, took over and basically started the untried route again only to fail again.

"... My advice to the new licensees would be to put people in place who have actually done the job, who have an intimate knowledge of interstate teams and travel and have a good track record."

The Gold Coast will on Saturday night host the round-eight clash between North Melbourne and West Coast, but a low crowd has been forecast following the Kangaroos' refusal to relocate north last year.

The AFL was unable to provide details about ticket sales, but reports earlier this week had sales as low as 1500.

A league spokeswoman said there were "plenty still available".

Witheriff was confident a good-sized crowd would attend, but denied the match was a test case for the Gold Coast's appreciation of the code, but more an "exhibition game".

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