There may be a sting in the tail for the proposed Gold Coast AFL club after their bid team was forced to ditch favoured nickname the Sharks.

Stingrays - one of five names shortlisted for the prospective club - has become the new favourite after a line was drawn through popular monikers the Sharks, Dolphins, Cougars and Pirates.

The Sharks tag was the most heavily favoured in an online poll that drew more than 2,000 responses.

It is the name of the Coast's biggest and most successful Australian rules club, the Southport Sharks, who are expected to be the new team's major backer if they are added to the league in 2011.

But legal issues with trademark rights - associated with the likes of the NRL's Cronulla Sharks and Greg Norman's Great White Shark Enterprises - forced GC17 to abandon such plans.

"Given the existing marks, any applicant would face significant hurdles in registering and commercialising the name and logo including in sponsorship and merchandise," said Martin Ross, a partner at Browne & Co, the AFL's long time legal advisers.

The names under serious consideration all contain a typically oceanic theme with Stingrays, Rays, Marlins, Ironmen and Guards (as in lifeguards) all shortlisted.

The final name will be announced during the 2008 AFL finals series in early September after logos are drawn.

Stingrays is a name long associated with Australian football on the Gold Coast with underage teams play under the banner.

GC17's five-point selection criteria includes community input, legal analysis, commercial viability, branding success, and alignment with the new club's values.

"We have been through a very detailed process following the public submissions," Munn said.

"This included the creation of selection criteria that highlighted any potential issues with using each name."

The GC17 Bid Team has also opened up its search for potential candidates to become development coach of the new team after Michael Voss announced he would link with West Coast next year.

Triple premiership-winning skipper Voss was the preferred candidate for the job to coach the team in the TAC Cup in 2009 and the VFL in 2010.

His mentor at the Brisbane Lions, Leigh Matthews, backed the 1996 Brownlow Medallist's move west to be assistant coach for two years at the Eagles.

Matthews said a prospective coach could best prepare for a senior job through working in the media, becoming an AFL assistant coach and learning in a new club environment.

Once Voss starts at the Eagles he would have ticked all three boxes.

"If I was recommending to a player it would be to go behind the scenes to a club other than your own," Matthews said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP