SUNS ON CUSP OF FINALS: AFL CEO

AFL CEO Gillon Mclachlan believes the Gold Coast Suns are not far away from being a serious finals contender.

The Suns are playing some of the best footy in the club’s 11-year 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, and I feel confident about that.

“If we can get the Suns and (Brisbane) Lions competing (for finals contention) at the same time, it’s going to be massive for Queensland football.”

Tassie team will not hurt Qld clubs’ AFL funding

As the AFL and its 18 member clubs move closer to an August vote on whether to award Tasmania an AFL licence, Mclachlan says a new team in the Apple Isle will have no impact on the code’s funding in Queensland.

Both the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions have received significant financial assistance from the AFL over the past decade as the code continues its battle to find a foothold in traditional rugby league heartland.

“All I would say for Gold Coast Suns and Lions supporters, is their funding will ebb and flow like it does depending on success, but it will not in any way be affected by the Tasmanian licence,” Mclachlan said.