Cats’ Chinese whisper

Power open to hosting Geelong in Shanghai

PORT Adelaide would consider Geelong as an opponent for its match in China next year as it urges the AFL to make a five-year commitment to the fixture.

And the Power has emerged as an unlikely supporter of Geelong’s bid for a home final at Simonds Stadium this year.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said yesterday he hoped the league would soon rubber-stamp next season’s China fixture.

Geelong is believed to be open to talking about selling one of its Etihad Stadium home games to the Power to play in Shanghai.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said recently the AFL Commission was likely to approve next year’s contest in the coming weeks.

The Cats would not give up a Simonds Stadium game but Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said this week “we’d probably look at” a Port Adelaide proposal for one of the club’s other home games.

“There are certainly (Victorian) clubs interested in understanding the business model,’’ Thomas said.

“Brian expressed an interest in finding out a little more about a game in China — how does it work, how you might leverage that experience.

“If you are going to take such a significant step, it’s not a financial transaction. You have to leverage the opportunity and it needs to be strategically important.”

This year’s opponent, Gold Coast, has been criticised for its on-field performance and its inability to strike business deals from the game.

“I met with the commission in April and certainly pushed the idea that they needed to make a five-year commitment to the region,’’ Thomas said.

“I think they were pleased with what they saw. They could make a one-year decision straight away, but everyone is feeling a little better informed and a lot more comfortable about China as an AFL destination.”

Cook said last week he believed the new 36,000-seat capacity at Simonds Stadium would allow the Cats to host AFL finals this year.

Thomas said if it did not affect the AFL’s bottom line too much, it should be possible.

“I think it’s an advantage and it’s an advantage they have earned,” he said. “You have to be pragmatic about it, but if you have earned the right to a home final, I personally would be wanting it and they should be able to have it.”