FNQ links kicking goals for the Suns

AFL THE Gold Coast Suns’ investment in Far North Queensland has already paid rich dividends and now the AFL club wants more.

Not happy just to have first look at the region’s finest football talents through its development academy, the Suns are seeking to strengthen their partnerships with Cairns Regional Council and big business in the Far North.

Just days after Mayor Bob Manning revealed they are in talks with the AFL club to strengthen their relationship the Suns backed his calls yesterday.

The Gold Coast will play their first home AFL game at Cazalys Stadium next year and will likely play an AFLW game in the Far North in their inaugural season.

Suns general manager of commercial projects Andrew Thomas was in Cairns recently to speak to stakeholders about increasing their presence.

“We are a young club based on the Gold Coast, but connection with North Queensland, in particular Cairns, is growing and in the years to come we hope Cairns evolves to become a strong part of the Suns story and we are speaking to key people across the city about how we make that happen,” Suns GM of communications and marketing Stephen Wilson said.

“The Suns’ presence in Cairns is more than a match at the AFL level, our link with Cairns and indeed North Queensland stretches far beyond that. Our Talent Academy programs have permanent bases in Cairns as well as other regions and we are now in the midst of evolving our talent programs to not only include more boys, but more and more girls.

“With the help of AFL Queensland and AFL Cairns we see that growing in the years to come and we hope that means we see greater AFL and women’s AFL content for the region.

“We see North Queensland playing an even bigger role in the Suns’ growth in the years to come and in turn that will generate many benefits for the region as well.”

Cr Manning said earlier this week he hoped Cairns could become a “Suns city” in the future, with the side already locked in to meet North Melbourne at Cazalys on March 24.

Cairns Regional Council Division 7 Councillor Max O’Halloran, who had a kick with the Western Bulldogs and Carlton in his day, would like to see more Suns’ presence.

“If we were able to lock in a game every year, that would be wonderful,” O’Halloran said.

“A girls’ (game) up here in a few years would be great too.”

The Suns have Far North juniors Jack Bowes and Jarrod Harbrow on their list for 2018.

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