FNQ TO THE AFL’S RESCUE Cairns, Port Douglas, in play to host Australia’s football code

We’ve lost our sledge

AFL Queensland is working on a proposal to league headquarters in Melbourne that could lead to clubs being based and playing in north Queensland to complete their seasons.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, AFL boss Gillon

McLachlan confirmed that Cairns was an option to host games and, with his tongue planted in his cheek, even suggested Port Douglas as a location some of his staff would like to visit and complete the campaign.

While McLachlan said Cairns was an option to play games, local officials are less hopeful of receiving actual matches, with a couple of teams staying in “hubs” locally a more likely option.

Victorian clubs will now set up camp in Queensland for the rest of the home-and-away season and will likely fly between Perth, Adelaide and other venues to play games.

While the majority of games are set to be completed in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns and even Port Douglas could host clubs, under the plan being developed by AFLQ.

More than a dozen teams are likely to be based in the southeast of the state, with AFLQ exploring the opportunities that would come with regional hubs. Premiership games may not be played in these regional hubs, but they may host clubs, with teams flying in and out to the southeast for their games.

Officials will push for games to be played in NQ, as well, but broadcast expenses will be Cairns’ Cazalys Stadium’s biggest stumbling block.

To set up a game, or a handful of games, at a venue such as Cazalys Stadium, which does not host regular matches, is a massive undertaking.

That makes the most likely possibility is NQ hosting clubs during the week, with them heading south to actually play.

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Picture: ALIX SWEENEY www.cairnspost.com.au HE may have been voted the NRL’s best sledger, but North Queensland forward Josh McGuire says he has been kept quiet by the Cowboys’ recent performances. After two tough weeks against Parramatta and Sydney, the Cowboys face another stiff test in the Panthers on Sunday afternoon. They have millions of dollars of talent in the casualty ward, but McGuire said using that as an excuse would be “a bit of a cop-out”. He said playing in the NRL comes with an expectation you put in an NRL-standard effort. And the State of Origin mainstay said it was not up to Paul Green and the coaching staff to enforce that mentality. “Whether you’re the highest-paid player at the club or a young guy coming in, there’s an expectation when you take the field as a firstgrader you play first-grade standard. There’s a certain responsibility as a player to perform at a high level every week ... for us as players, for the club, for the community.” SILENCED: Josh McGuire, known for his sledging prowess, hopes that his NQ Cowboys can find their voice.