Gold Coast will be forced off Metricon Stadium in early 2018 because of Commonwealth Games

GOLD Coast will play home games at the Gabba early next year after being forced off Metricon Stadium for the first 10 weeks of the 2018 season.

Gold Coast will play home games at the Gabba next year because of the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Adam Head

GOLD Coast will play home games at the Gabba early next year after being forced off Metricon Stadium for the first 10 weeks of the 2018 season.

The city will play host to the April 4-15 Commonwealth Games, with Metricon Stadium built with the purpose of both the AFL and the 2018 festival of sport.

The Suns hope to be scheduled only three home games during that 10-week period but will need to play at least one at the Gabba.

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They hope to also play their China “home” contest against Port Adelaide in that period and are open to selling another game to northern Queensland.

Metricon was only built for the Suns because of the impending Commonwealth Games, but it will require a month to return the ground to AFL condition.

Gold Coast won’t have access to Metricon Stadium in the first 10 rounds of next year. Picture: Adam Head

Gold Coast chief executive Andrew Travis told the Herald Sun there were a number of options for the Suns to consider.

“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,’’ he said.

“We played three games at the Gabba in the first year in 2011 and you would expect China gives you one of those three and the Gabba is an option.

“North Queensland is somewhere we would like to explore. We are up in Cairns (for a Bulldogs home game) but it’s a chance to take another game to the region up there.”

The Suns have played pre-season games in Townsville and play a JLT community series game in Mackay this year.

The Suns take on Port Adelaide in Round 8 in China, with Travis confident the turf and surrounds will be in suitable condition for an AFL game by then.

Next week the Suns move into their new 4000sq m facility on the Gold Coast after working out of portables since 2011.

It will help sell the club to suitors and retain established talent, with a three-lane pool, gym, rehab facility, meeting rooms and coaches offices all in one building.

The Suns believe the recruitment of Jarryd Lyons, Pearce Hanley and Michael Barlow will help bolster midfield depth.

But Gary Ablett and his homesick wife Jordan, who were keen to return home to Geelong, are both in much better spirits.

“He’s in a terrific space,” Travis said.

“He is training really well, his presence here and commitment is stronger than ever, Jordan is happy off the field and we are hoping to see him play plenty of footy this year.

“Hopefully with our depth we are more resilient as a group from injuries so the goal is more wins and move up the ladder. The guys have trained well and are ready to go now.”

Originally published as Gold Coast will be forced off Metricon Stadium in early 2018 because of Commonwealth Games