Suns in line to play up north
AFTER being the away team for so long, the Gold Coast Suns could finally bring a home game to the Far North in 2018.
With the Suns’ home deck of Metricon Stadium unavailable for the first 10 weeks of the next AFL season for the Commonwealth Games, Cazalys Stadium looms as a potential destination for the club to “sell” a home game.
The Suns will play an away game this season against the reigning premier Western Bulldogs but the Dogs deal is just one season in length with 2017 likely their last stop in Cairns.
The Bulldogs are committed to playing two games in Ballarat in 2018 which should rule out taking a home game to the Far North.
Gold Coast chief executive Andrew Travis is open to selling a game to North Queensland.
Townsville’s Tony Ireland Stadium, through lobbying from Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, has also expressed interest in securing a Suns home game during the Commonwealth Games.
“North Queensland is somewhere we would like to explore,” Travis said.
“We are up in Cairns (for a Bulldogs home game) but it’s a chance to take another game to the region up there.
“Anywhere between Rounds 8-10 we will be back in so that’s three games we need to relocate.
“We wouldn’t have Metricon without the securing of the Commonwealth Games.”
The Suns hope to be scheduled only three home games during the 10-week period but will need to play at least one at the Gabba in Brisbane.
AFL Cairns president Gary Young said no formal discussions had taken place about the Suns coming to the Far North in 2018 but the idea was floated when the Suns were in Cairns last July.
“Andrew Travis from the Suns and I spoke about it in July 2016 when they were up to play the Bulldogs,” Young said.
“He was keen to explore the idea, they know the place up here and are comfortable with the facilities and everything, as they have played here a number of times before.
“Cazalys Stadium has a proven track record of carrying out elite events at the ground.
“I would like to think we are a good chance to get one of these relocated games.”
The Suns will be in the Far North for their 2017 AFL Community Camp, including running clinics and school appearances, on February 27-28 and March 3.