REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday, June 28, 2007

AFL chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou said the Aussie rules league would be on the Gold Coast by 2010 — with or without the Kangaroos.

The AFL made it clear they were determined to have a permanent presence on the Coast by 2010.

The Kangaroos were a chance to relocate north, but the AFL had big plans for the Gold Coast, regardless of the Roos’ decision.

There were three possibilities in place — the Kangaroos would relocate to the Coast, another AFL club would relocate, or the AFL would grant a 17th licence.

Speaking at the AFL’s midseason report in Melbourne, Mr Demetriou told The Gold Coast Bulletin the Coast was very much on the league’s agenda.

The Kangaroos were aware of the league’s vision for the Coast after the club’s board of directors met the AFL commission.

Mr Demetriou said it was in the Kangaroos’ hands whether they moved to the Coast but denied the league was pushing the club north.

“They have launched their own independent commission looking into their short and longterm future,” he said.

“We have met with them and they know our thoughts on it all. It is all up to them now but we are going there anyway.’”

The only obstacle standing in the AFL’s way was the Queensland Government contract in place that stated any second AFL team entering Queensland must play its home games out of the Gabba.

That contract was in place until 2016, but the AFL’s Gillon McLachlan said the league was the process of getting around the agreement.