AFL club embraces FNQ challenge

One AFL boss says the opportunity to train and play together in Cairns will add to the significant growth his team has made in 2020.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 10: Caleb Serong of the Dockers handballs during the round 11 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on August 10, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

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Fremantle football boss Peter Bell says the opportunity to train and play together in Cairns will add to the significant growth his team has already made in 2020.

Fremantle will be one of four clubs who are on the way to FNQ to complete the current season, including Sydney and Melbourne, with the fourth club likely to be the Western Bulldogs.

Bell, the Dockers’ General manager of football, said the club was ready to embrace the next hub challenge in Cairns.

“We were really pleased with the way our players and staff welcomed and embraced the move to the Gold Coast in June, and this will be no different,” Bell said.

“The opportunity to train and play together in Cairns will add to the significant growth we have already made as a young team, in a short period of time.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 10: Luke Ryan of the Dockers in action during the round 11 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on August 10, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

“As a club, we consider ourselves really fortunate to play seven games this season in front of our incredible members, who really got behind the club at a difficult time.

“It has been a great experience so far for our players, and I’m sure they will really cherish these next few weeks before we head off.”

Bell was a champion footballer with North Melbourne and Fremantle before heading into his administration role.

He went on to explain that his club is yet to receive confirmation on what the quarantine conditions will be on players and staff when they return to Western Australia from Queensland.

Fremantle players and staff will depart Perth following the Round 14 clash against GWS at Optus Stadium, and will play North Melbourne, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs and Richmond in the final rounds, with the exact fixture to be determined.

Between 2011 and 2018 the Gold Coast Suns played one regular season game a year at Cazalys Stadium, facing off against the Tigers, the Bulldogs and the Kangaroos in that time.

The full fixture for Rounds 14-17 will be released in coming days.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 10: Nathan Wilson of the Dockers marks the ball during the round 11 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on August 10, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

AFL General Manager of Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said it was fantastic to return football to Cairns, as well as base two clubs in the Cairns community for a period of time.

“We are delighted to be again playing games at Cazalys and to have Fremantle and the Sydney Swans staying in Cairns which has such a passionate AFL support base,” Auld said.

“We are really grateful for the support of the Queensland Government which has ensured our season has been able to continue, along with the wonderful support of Tourism Queensland and Cairns Regional Council.

“We are always excited to bring our games to Far North Queensland, and now for a period of time having teams in the community and contributing to the local economy when it is really needed.”

Originally published as AFL club embraces FNQ challenge