Suns to shine here

T O WNS V I L L E ’ S s p o r t i n g landscape is set for a new dawn in 2019 as Riverway Stadium hosts an official AFL premiership match for the first time.

The AFL draw will be confirmed today with Gold Coast Suns to face St Kilda at the stadium on Saturday, June 15.

Townsville has a proven appetite for elite AFL action after hosting preseason matches featuring the Suns, with more than 3000 fans turning out for their clash with Geelong earlier this year.

The region copped a drenching in the week leading up to that JLT Community Series match, but Suns coach Stuart Dew praised the playing surface and facilities.

The Suns already have strong ties to North Queensland and acting CEO Andrew Thomas said the club was excited to now bring a premiership match to Townsville.

“We know North Queensland fans are passionate about AFL … and we are thrilled they will see the team play an AFL match for the very first time in Townsville,” Thomas said.

“As a club we have established significant support in North Queensland. For the past eight seasons we have played an annual match in Cairns and now are thrilled to now be sharing this match with Townsville and its many AFL fans. North Queensland is a significant region for our club and is our home away from home and we enjoy playing our role in developing Austra- lian football throughout the region, which is also a key recruitment catchment for the Gold Coast Suns talent academy.”

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said she was incredibly excited the Suns would return to the city with competition points at stake.

“It’s really great to see Townsville host Gold Coast Suns playing a major fixture here in our city,” she said.

“We are the events and sporting capital of northern Australia and we have arguably the best ground in regional Australia, with Riverway Stadium. We will showcase the amazing AFL facilities we have to a national audience and attract footy fans from across the country to our city.

“Fans travelling from out of town will stay in our hotels, eat in our local restaurants — which is great for creating local jobs for our city.

“I’m sure all the local AFL diehards — including myself — are looking forward to the game.”

Details of how to purchase tickets to the match will be promoted early next year.

WE KNOW NORTH QUEENSLAND FANS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AFL ANDREW THOMAS