The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

Another big win for AFL courtesy of Gold Coast Suns

Expert
8th May, 2011
119
5021 Reads
Karmichael Hunt of the Suns

Karmichael Hunt of the Suns in action during the AFL Round 07 match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, Brisbane.

The AFL couldn’t have scripted a better fortnight: a new television deal signed which exceeded the billion-dollar mark; the Adelaide Oval redevelopment – the potential saviour of the code’s most vulnerable club – confirmed; and on Saturday night the first-ever Queensland derby was won by the competition’s rookies.

The Gold Coast Suns’ thrilling eight-point win over the Brisbane Lions – their second win this season – will help cement the Suns into the Queensland psyche, generating some positive news stories and excitement as they prepare for their debut at their Carrara Stadium home ground.

Some had pondered which would be more detrimental to the AFL’s Queensland quest, a Brisbane or Gold Coast loss?

But the reality is the Lions brand is now strong enough to survive a period of on-field struggle, as proven by the 25,000-strong crowd in attendance at the Gabba on a night when the Broncos were also in action across town.

The Suns and AFL needed the result they got, or at least a competitive performance, in the derby. Like when newbies Melbourne Heart upset the established Melbourne Victory in the A-League’s first derby, the first win to the younger sibling sets up the rivalry nicely, upon which the intrastate feeling can build, evening up the playing field in the state.

The bad blood and posturing heading into the first Queensland derby, real or manufactured, only helped the cause.

Some had questioned the AFL’s expansion policy in the wake of Gold Coast’s capitulation against Essendon last weekend, where they found themselves 93 points down at quarter-time and subsequently lost by 139 points.

Advertisement

But erratic performances are par of the course for an expansion club starting from scratch, and it shouldn’t have in any way called into question the AFL’s expansion policy.

The Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants, debuting in 2012, give the AFL a weekly presence in the Queensland and New South Wales markets, with the rivalry between the Suns and Lions in Queensland, and Swans and Giants in NSW, helping the code widen its footprint via greater interest.

As the Swans and Lions can today show, long-term vision and patience is required. And the Suns and Giants will grow in a much healthier league than the Swans and Lions ever did.

When compared to the 34,000 at Suncorp for the Broncos versus Melbourne Storm NRL clash, the AFL can be satisfied with the 25,501 fans at the Gabba. Remember, the Lions were rooted to the bottom of the ladder with no wins, playing a side just one spot above them that had been destroyed the previous weekend, relative to a Broncos team playing for top spot on the ladder against what remains one of the most exciting NRL teams in the Storm. One was a bottom of the table clash, the other a top of the table.

Things appear even brighter for the AFL up north.

Meanwhile, the confirmation that the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval, which was orchestrated by Andrew Demetriou, will go ahead provides a huge boost to the Adelaide Crows and Port Power, and South Australian footy as a whole.

The beleaguered Power is expecting to be $3.5 million a year better off from the move to the Oval come 2014 – a boost they desperately need.

Advertisement

Once they carve up Adelaide into two distinct pieces, the Crows and Power are left with the smallest market in the AFL to fight for. And once you divide those pieces further into SANFL allegiances, those who love Port and those who despise them, the Power is left with a tiny supporter base that’s struggling to sustain its AFL and SANFL clubs.

The city move with its promise of greater crowds – like the AFL moving the Melbourne-based teams into the CBD over a decade ago – has the potential to enliven footy in the state; an opportunity Port needs to grasp.

With the Adelaide market set to reap the benefits of the Oval move and the Gold Coast Suns exceeding expectations, the AFL is sitting pretty on its $1.25 billion treasure chest and can solidify its bases and focus on the western Sydney battleground.

Things are falling into place nicely for AFL House.

close