Moneghetti will lead the Australian team for a third straight Commonwealth Games as Chef de Mission and urged the public to get behind their athletes as the countdown continues.

The winner of four Commonwealth Games medals, including marathon gold at Victoria 1994, believes the home crowd could aid Australian efforts on the Gold Coast.

"As an athlete, there is no greater honour than to represent your country in front of a home crowd," he said.

"Already the Gold Coast community are sharing the dream of a home Commonwealth Games and as we draw closer, the support for Australian athletes will grow and grow.

"In 12 months time we will bring together a team of some 470 athletes - including Para-athletes - across 18 sports to represent Australia.

"Commonwealth Games Australia is working closely with all sports and high performance partners to do all we can to best prepare our team to do Australia proud on the Gold Coast.

"I encourage all Australian’s to follow the journey of our athletes and that of the Gold Coast community over the next 12 months as they prepare for 2018."

Australia’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games received a boost in November, after it was announced an extra AUD$2 million (£1.2 million/$1.5 million/€1.4 million) of funding would be provided as part of a new partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

The initiative is set to provide athletes with more funding, while CGA are putting into place a podium initiative to aid various projects aimed at helping preparations for the Games.

It looks set to stoke up the rivalry between Australia and England, who are being backed by £4 million ($5 million/€4.5 million) of National Lottery funding from Sport England to support their preparations.

England topped the medals table at Glasgow 2014 with 58 gold, 59 silver and 57 bronze, with Australia second on 49 gold, 42 silver and 46 bronze.

Moneghetti hopes to build a team environment over the coming months as Australia seek to finish top of the table at Gold Coast 2018.

"From a management point of view, we have put a lot more work into ensuring preparations are right," Moneghetti, heading into his ninth Commonwealth Games as either an athlete or official, said. 

"I have come from the [national] athletics and swimming championship this week and there is a really good buzz, because there is so my focus on the Games.

"In the back of their minds athletes are aware of it, so they are focused and working hard as a team.

"The sports know it is a multi-sport competition so are already working in a team environment, which means when we bring them together under the Australian umbrella it is a lot easier as they have been so closely connected along the way.

"It is great for people and great for the Gold Coast that it is a home Games, but it is also really great for athletes as well because they have that great support but can also be a lot more relaxed.

"It helps to focus you on your performance, so I think we might underestimate the importance of the home ground advantage."