SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Suns to take AFL games to north

Tonwsville is set to host an AFL match for the first time from 2019 or 2020 onwards.

Gold Coast Suns players huddle during the Round 23.
Tonwsville is set to host AFL matches for the first time from 2019 or 2020 onwards. (AAP)

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Gold Coast will host an AFL match in Townsville for the first time beginning in 2019 or 2020.

With Metricon Stadium out of action for the first couple of months of the 2018 AFL season due to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the Suns will also play a home game in Cairns next year in a deal announced on Wednesday by the Queensland government.

The Suns have played at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns in each of the previous seven years, but on each occasion as the nominal away team.

Chairman Tony Cochrane said the Suns were delighted to be strengthening their links with North Queensland.

"As a club we have established significant support in Cairns and Townsville and enjoy playing our role in developing Australian Football throughout the region, which is also a key recruitment catchment for the Gold Coast Suns' Talent Academy," he said in a statement.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"In the past, through community camps, pre-season games and AFL premiership fixtures, the Gold Coast Suns has and will continue to support the growth of AFL in North Queensland."

Metricon Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the track field program at the April 4-15 Commonwealth Games.

The Suns are slated to play a home match against Port Adelaide in Shanghai for a second successive year in 2018.

They are also likely to play at least one home game at the Gabba while Metricon Stadium is unavailable during and immediately after the Commonwealth Games.

The AFL will release the 2018 schedule in the coming weeks.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world