HE MAY not be coach yet, but Michael Voss has wasted no time appealing to the AFL for draft and recruitment concessions on behalf of the Gold Coast's newest franchise.

In his first official outing since being elected to the GC17 bid team to help structure its playing list, the former Brisbane Lions captain said the side had to be competitive to survive.

Voss, a 289-game veteran who led the Lions to three consecutive premierships in 2001-2003, said it was up to the AFL to ensure the team attracted quality players.

"We need to be competitive at conception," he said. "You're not after the best list in the history of the universe, what you're after is just to have a reasonable chance to compete."

Given the team has until October to prove it should be granted the AFL's 17th licence, Voss said he was still working on measures he wanted the league to introduce. "I've got some initial thoughts on the list, but I probably haven't got to the stage where I've said, 'I need X, Y, Z'," he said. "If we're only going to get pick 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 (in the draft), that might be a bit concerning."

Voss, who is frontrunner for the coaching job, said he would have to look well beyond Queensland to fill the playing list.

"As fast as we are developing in this state, we still don't have the depth consistently, year after year after year, to be able to have Queenslanders come through the system and rely on them to be the core of your team," he said. "We've got to look more national."

As for his personal contribution, Voss reaffirmed his desire to be coach, although he pointed out it might not happen on the Gold Coast.

AAP