Cairns vies for games
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“Our matches deliver significant benefit to the local economy through fans travelling to watch their team play,” Auld said. “North Queensland is in the running to host AFL Football matches again in 2018 and this will be confirmed in October when we release the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture.”
There were only positive noises coming out of the Bulldogs camp about returning for a fifth straight season while the Suns are strongly considering Cazalys as a “home” game next year. The Suns will need to move four games early next year with Brisbane’s the Gabba, a Gold Coast groun and North Queensland being considered.
“It is a logistic challenge to make sure venues are up to scratch but we know the venue in Cairns is up to scratch and we have two venues in Mackay and Townsville, that is ready for preseason competitions,” Gold Coast Suns CEO Mark Evans said.
AFL Cairns boss Gary Young is hopeful a new deal will be struck.
“There are a few balls in the air with what the Gold Coast are going to do with the Commonwealth Games,” Young said.
“We want a game for premiership points in Cairns and we will fit in with what the AFL or clubs want. We are quietly confident.”
The Dogs are committed to playing two games in Ballarat in 2018 but coach Luke Beveridge is adamant the Ballarat and Cairns deal can coexist.