Qld, Gold Coast to host even more AFL teams
Six AFL teams will set up base in Queensland for the rest of the season. SUBSCRIBE TO READ THE WHOLE DRAMA
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UPDATE: PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Steven Miles have welcomed the reopening of pubs and clubs at a press conference at the Paddington Tavern in Brisbane, as the state also prepares to welcome six Melbourne AFL teams fleeing the Victorian outbreak.
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Mr Miles, who is also Health Minister, said it wasn’t often he got to encourage Queenslanders to get on the booze.
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“It’s a good day to go out and spend some money at your local pub,” he said.
Ms Palaszczuk has also confirmed that Queensland will host a number of Melbourne AFL clubs.
The six teams – St Kilda, North Melbourne, Essendon, Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Carlton – will set up base in Queensland for the rest of the season, basing themselves on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
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“I’ve just been advised that Qld is coming to the aid - or you could say the salvation - of the AFL season,” she said.
EARLIER: GOLD Coast’s Metricon Stadium is set to become the home of the AFL with half the competition’s clubs to be represented in the city in the coming weeks.
The Gold Coast AFL hub is set to extend with up to five interstate sides to descend on the city next week.
The AFL is scrambling to get teams out of Victoria and into hubs across the country in order to keep the competition going due to tightening border restrictions.
The success of the current Gold Coast hub, that has made the city home for South Australian sides Port Adelaide and West Coast as well as West Australian teams West Coast and Fremantle, has prompted the governing body to continue using the region.
The Suns will leave for Geelong on Saturday but there will be no shortage of AFL talent here.
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The two South Australian sides will leave Queensland on Sunday while the West Australian teams will be here for one more week.
They will be joined by the four Victorian teams next week and another is likely to come the week after while Brisbane and Gold Coast will both keep reserves players at home during away trips, meaning nine teams will have representation in Queensland.
“Gold Coast has once again rolled out the red carpet to the AFL and their clubs to make sure that the AFL season can continue to progress,” Suns CEO Mark Evans said.
“Metricon Stadium is now the home of AFL.”
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Port Adelaide, who have called the Mecure home of late, have been the greatest beneficiaries of their time on the Gold Coast, winning all three of their games here to propel themselves to the top of the ladder.
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Port midfielder Ollie Wines gave the city a ringing endorsement. “We have had an incredible time up here on the Gold Coast,” Wines said.
“The AFL has done an excellent job in putting us at the Mecure resort and all the staff have been so accommodating. We have had a really good experience.
“Wherever the AFL needs us to play, we are happy to go and if it’s the Gold Coast we are happy to come back.
“The atmosphere around the city (is great), it’s always warm and people are happy and out and about.
“It creates a positive move among us and hopefully you have seen that in the way we have played and the results.”
The Mecure and Royal Pines will house the teams.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate the city was an obvious choice for the AFL.
“Of course we would welcome an extension of the AFL hub. And why wouldn’t they want to come here? – we are safe, the climate is perfect and we are definitely open for business,” Mayor Tate said.
“We have seen the teams from WA and SA posting on social media showcasing our sunshine and perfect winter weather.
“Every AFL fan in the country will be dreaming about a holiday on the Gold Coast.”
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