Lions sweat on funds for women

BRISBANE are banking on a $15 million chunk of Queensland Government funding for sport from today’s Budget to be warehoused for a new boutique stadium for their women’s AFL team.

The Lions also made a pitch to Federal Sports Minister Greg Hunt in Brisbane on Friday in the hope the Turnbull Government would match any contributions made by the Palaszczuk Government.

The Lions have commitments from Ipswich City Council for $10 million and a peppercorn lease from the Springfield Land Corporation for the block of land to build a new training and administration base at Springfield.

It is believed the AFL has doubled its funding commitment to $10 million for the Springfield proposal.

Brisbane needs a State Government contribution to turn the training oval into an AFL-standard venue for the women’s team with lights, a small grandstand and corporate area plus hills and terraces that could house 15,000 fans.

The AFL is desperate to get a venue suitable for the AFLW competition and also men’s pre-season matches.