Gold Coast Suns: AFL team vows to play ‘anywhere, anytime’ as it faces long COVID road trip

The Gold Coast Suns management say the soaring AFL side will play anywhere, anytime ahead of a scheduled Geelong showdown in Victoria as that state deals with a coronavirus case surge.

The Gold Coast Suns management say the soaring AFL side will play anywhere, anytime ahead of a scheduled Geelong showdown in Victoria as that state deals with a coronavirus case surge.

Suns General Manager Football Operations Jon Haines said the Suns were treating the contest as business as usual and praised the AFL’s collaborative efforts with state governments.

Darcy MacPherson of the Suns kicks during the Round 4 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Fremantle Dockers (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

SUNS ARE ‘TAILOR-MADE’ FOR HUB LIFE

“We’re respectful of the huge amount of work that’s going on behind the scenes from the AFL and various governments around the country to get the competition continuing in a really consistent format,” he said. “At this stage, we are absolutely travelling down in Geelong this weekend, that’s a fact and that’s what we’re planning for.

“But in terms of anything else that comes along, we’re open-minded, we’ve had to be since the start of the season.”

Victorian coronavirus cases spiked by 75 on the weekend, prompting Queensland’s State Government to issue new guidelines for Queensland-based sides playing matches against Victorian-based opposition. At this stage, new Queensland Government restriction requires teams to quarantine for 14 days on their return home from playing in Melbourne where the Suns play Geelong on Saturday.

CONSOLATION FOR BUSINESS IF BORDER STAYS SHUT

Ben King in action. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

They are also due to play in Melbourne the following weekend against Hawthorn.

If that match goes ahead, which at this stage is no certainty, the Suns may also then head to Sydney to serve their two-week quarantine period in NSW and play games against the Swans and Giants.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said: “The Suns might not go back to Queensland.

“They might go other routes. That clearly will be adhered to,” he said saying it was dependent on advice in coming days “about how they traverse back to Queensland, whether they did go back into quarantine or whether when went a different way.”

Mr Haines said the Suns – riding high after their third win on the trot last weekend at home – were prepared to do their part to keep the competition alive in 2020.

The Suns are riding high (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“We’ve said before on numerous occasions, we’re happy to go anywhere to play footy and help the competition continue. That’s our mindset.

“We’re also open to having teams come up here if there’s another hub in the future, on the Gold Coast.

“It certainly works well for the teams that are here and for us over the last three or four weeks. If that was to occur again, we’d be really supportive.”

The Suns are enjoying one of their best starts to a season and sit in second place ahead of northern nemesis the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn.

Mr Haines said the camaraderie on field was reflected off it, and the opportunity to spend more time together as a playing group in any circumstance was welcome.

“All those sorts of things in terms of group dynamics are important. The more time we can get this group playing together, and the more time we can get the group spending time together is a really important part of the overall puzzle. The group loves spending time together and the staff enjoy spending time with them. It provides opportunities for us to get to know them a little better.

“So there’s no downside. From our point of view, we see it as an opportunity and we really enjoy the time away.”