AFL newcomers Gold Coast could play one of their first few home games in far north Queensland – more than 1,500km away from the glitter strip.
And Gold Coast CEO Travis Auld believes playing rivals the Brisbane Lions in their 2011 opener would “waste an opportunity”.
The Gold Coast’s home ground is Carrara Stadium – but it is being redeveloped and work it not expected to be completed until May next year.
AFL marketing and commercial operations chief Gillon McLachlan said there were a “number of options”, including Cairns, to be considered as venues for the Gold Coast’s first opening home game.
“We still have a bit of a way to go to work through that process,” he told afl.com.au on Monday.
“The aim is to have the fixture ready, as always, by October.
“We’ll try to have a lot of this work done by June or July to give us an idea of how Gold Coast’s first season in the competition will begin.”
Auld supported playing in Cairns – which has hosted NAB Cup games – early in the season.
“We need some (home) games early on to reward all those people in the community who have come and supported us – they need to be able to see their team,” Auld told the website.
“What we need to determine is, if we want to play as many home games at Carrara Stadium in the second half of the year, how many away games can we play early on?
“It’s a really interesting balance so if we can play a couple of games at the Gabba and maybe a game in Cairns and maybe one locally, it could work.”
But Auld did not want to start their historic 2011 season against the Lions.
“In my view, in round one you would waste an opportunity if you played Brisbane,” he said.
“We’re going to create a really good rivalry with Brisbane and it’s silly to have that in round one when you could generate some serious interest around the game if it was round three or five or seven.
“We’d rather reward the people who followed us from the start with the first game and then reward them again a couple of rounds later when we play Brisbane at the Gabba and hopefully fill the stadium.”
Timmuh
Guest
A game against Brisbane will draw a full house no matter when it is played. The opening game will draw a big crowd no matter who it is against. A smaller drawing side with like Melbourne would be the ideal opening home, then a high drawing non-Queensland side (Adelaide?), then Brisbane; three large crowds to build momentum. If they start against Brisbane, its all downhill from there. As for Cairns, I don't see a full time North Queensland side any time soon - or indeed for many decades. Getting a few games up there would be a great move. Whether it should be Gold Coast, who need to build a local presence as a priority, or a Vic team should look at a second home there, or just some random low drawing games with a variety of "home" teams is another question.
Republican
Guest
Surely Canberra would be considered before Nth Qld? But then NZ will probably trump all Aust contenders for the next expansion - despite offering no criteria of GR or culture for the game. In fact Mars is more likely to be addded to the AFL before Canberra ever is. Cheers
Redb
Roar Guru
Not sure I agree with Auld suggesting the first game in 2011 to be against Brisbane Lions would be a waste. Play the first game at the Gabba and the second at Carrera when its finished. All for playing AFL games in Cairns though. I've spent a bit of time in Nth QLd around Cairns and would say Aussie Rules has a decent following. Apart from giving Cairns a game or two I'm not sure how much the southern club (GC) would attract a following medium to long term. 3rd Perth team and Tassie likely 19th and 20th teams though. Can't see any Melbourne AFL team dying for some time, TV deal and Etihad agreement with support these teams. North Melb the most vulnerable for sure.
damos_x
Guest
great idea for the afl & aussie rules in general, cairns has long been the afl capital of nq & has the ground etc already in place & when the afl comes knocking in nq cairns is the place despite what will be a certain attempt from Townsville to get involved, asa carlton fan i would love to see top flight footy up here & it will get huge support from a very passionate sporting area. people talk of travelling fans going large distances to watch the Cowboys & we do love 'em up here as the slogan went, same goes for afl, give us some games, then give us a go at a club, the nq kangas anyone ( nth melbourne will loveit & the club with the great afl set-up is already the cairns kangaroos how perfect!) so yeah, bring it cos we are keen as the proverbial mustard!!