Massive loss to GC. The AFL have designed this new team, as opposed to previous new teams, to be premiers in 4 or 5 years, that's the idea. They never made a concerted effort to achieve this with previous new sides.
Port won their first game in Round 3 of 97, after getting smashed by 12-13 goals by a mid-table Collingwoood side.
Freo lost their first ever match by just 5 points away to the arguably the best Richmond side since the early 80's. Freo won their first ever match just a few weeks later.
Adelaide smashed eventual premiers Hawthorn by 14 goals or something back in 1991.
But I suppose all these clubs were feeding from the cream of the WAFL and SANFL, while Gold Coast aren't. They had a fair share of mature players, and were primed to be competitive.
I expected more from GC against Carlton, and they'll probably really struggle next week against Footscray. I do wonder whether it's the right thing to do on the AFL's part, to let GC be shit for a year or two, before expecting what is supposed to be the most talented of young squads to be lifting the premiership cup in 2014-2015