AFL rivals upset by Suns move

WEST Coast and Brisbane claim a secret plan they hatched to play a Lions home game at the new Perth Stadium was pinched by the AFL.

Instead Gold Coast will host Fremantle in Perth which will cost the Lions $1 million and the Eagles a bonus home game.

They are angry their archrivals – the AFL-controlled Suns – and the Dockers will now get to cash in on their radical fixture concept.

“Certainly we were trying to get the game against Brisbane because they’re inconvenienced by the Commonwealth Games as well,” Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said.

“We broached the subject about 18 months ago. (Lions chief executive) Greg Swann was the one who instigated the conversation with me and I said it’s a great idea and we’d love to do it.”

The AFL last night said the Suns were only considered because of their “unique” circumstance. Metricon Stadium is unavailable until Round 11 because of the Commonwealth Games.

“Brisbane don’t have that challenge and therefore the circumstances don’t warrant considering a home game being relocated,” AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said.

Auld said the AFL Commission was “consulted” on the Gold Coast deal.

It was decided the Dockers were a “better outcome from a fixturing point of view”, rather than the Eagles.