AFL COUP IMPETUS TO LURE MORE GAMES IN 2021

The plan to turn our AFL coup into a long-term win for FNQ

AFL Cairns officials are hoping the upcoming AFL contests and hub experience for clubs will be able to leverage FNQ into more games in 2021 and beyond.

Between 2011 and 2018, the Gold Coast Suns played one home and away season game a year at Cazalys Stadium, facing off against the Tigers, the Bulldogs and the Kangaroos in that time.

During those years, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs sold home games to Cairns, making big money from the experience.

But, since 2018, FNQ has been unable to find a club to take its cash to move a contest north.

And, Queensland government guidelines permit the Suns to sell a game to Cairns, which is part of the club’s recruiting zone, making the chances of FNQ landing a contest or two even more difficult.

With Victoria now not able to host games due to its second wave of coronavirus, Queensland has come to the rescue to allow the season to roll along.

Queensland Premier Annastacia

Palaszczuk has attempted to leverage Queensland saving the AFL season to land the 2020 grand final and FNQ officials could do the same to get some longterm benefit out of their use of facilities and grounds.

AFL Cairns boss Gary Young is hopeful a positive experience for clubs over the coming months in the Far North can lead to more games in years to come.

“I would like to think (we’d get more games) once we put on four matches, and show our infrastructure is up to speed,” Young said.

“New clubs will come up here and see the great environment and facilities, and they should be thinking, ‘why do we not bring our pre-season camps up in this part of the world?’.

“I think there are greater opportunities (ahead) … I will be driving for that, about how we can do that into next year when there is normality back.

“Yes, we will be looking for more opportunities in the future.”

Cairns MP Michael Healy backed up Young’s claims.

“It is another opportunity to sell our city and our region,” Healy said.

“Broader opportunities are definitely there and we hope to capitalise on them, also.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the two teams to be based in Far North Queensland after Round 12 were yet to be determined.

McLachlan said the Cairns stint would see the clubs “go there for three to four weeks”.

With at least three games in 2020, which could expand to four, and two clubs “hubbing” in FNQ, the teams to be based in Cairns will be unlikely to be confirmed for a fortnight.