QUEENSLAND UP IN GILL’S ESTIMATION
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan believes the Lions and Suns are on the verge of sustained success, writes Callum Dick
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan believes a decade from now the Brisbane Lions will be considered “one of the biggest teams in the competition” and the Gold Coast Suns are not far away from transforming into a serious finals contender.
McLachlan, who was in Brisbane on Thursday for the Lions’ clash with the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, spoke with The Courier-Mail about a wide range of topics concerning the growth of Aussie rules in Queensland.
“The Lions – they’ve gotten to the penultimate game in recent years. They’re playing well, they’re entrenched in the top four and it’s so wide open. They feel they have the team to be there on the last Saturday in September and I hope, for Queenslanders, they (are),” McLachlan said.
Brisbane’s resurgence under Chris Fagan has rekindled memories of the early 2000s when the Lions’ threepeat premiership success made them the hottest ticket in town within rugby league heartland.
McLachlan said there were shades of the Leigh Matthews era seeping into the excitement around the modern day Lions and on-field success, for both Queensland clubs, was a key cornerstone in the code’s push to gain further ground in the state.
“In the late-90s it was hard work. By the time (the Lions) had won the three-peat in the mid-2000s, they had sold out the Gabba for 10 years,” McLachlan said.
“Ten years the Gabba was a sellout and it spurred a generation of boys and girls who love football. They are a big club. They’ve had their moments and you see now, with the ratings, going to prime time on Saturday nights into Queensland and winning that market, they’re a big club.
“If they can have the ultimate success (a premiership) I think that will give them another leg.
“I’m confident we’ll be sitting back a decade from now and Brisbane will be one of the biggest clubs in the competition.”
The Suns meanwhile are playing some of the best footy in the club’s 11year history and have left the door ajar for a maiden post-season appearance this season.
Home games against heavyweight Victorian clubs Collingwood and Richmond over the next fortnight will be crucial to the Suns’ immediate finals chances though regardless of the short-term, McLachlan says the club looks to finally be trending upward after “a long incubation period”.
“(The Suns) have huge growth potential. The amount of boys and girls – and teams – playing on the Gold Coast has been extraordinary since they came in (to the competition) … but it would be faster, and momentum would be validated and enhanced, if the Suns start putting their roots down and winning. And I think they’re across that,” McLachlan said.
“They’ve had a long incubation period but I’m really confident with where they are now. They have a great young list.
“I watched the game last weekend (against Port Adelaide) and that was a seriously good game. It feels to me the Gold
Coast Suns are now playing football that can compete at the highest levels of our game and I’m pretty pleased with that.
“There’s a football club there that you can look at now and say, that team is going to be competing at the business end of the season over the coming years.