Take it to the tropics! Queensland’s bold bid to host the inaugural AFLW Gather Round

A tropical Queensland city has launched a bold bid to host the inaugural AFLW Gather Round, claiming it has the best grounds in regional Australia.

Cairns Regional Council and AFL Cairns has set an ambitious plan to host the inaugural AFL Women's gather round at Cazalys Stadium. Cairns deputy mayor Brett Olds, AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees and mayor Amy Eden want to mimic the success of the AFL's Gather Round by hosting an entire round of the AFL Women's premiership at Cazalys Stadium. Picture: Brendan Radke

A tropical Queensland city has made a bold bid to the AFL to host the inaugural AFLW Gather Round.

Cairns Council, in conjunction with AFL Cairns, have launched the ambitious bid after landing the Hawthorn AFLW side on a three-year deal in June and now wants to continue to expand the game in the region.

It would be the first of its kind to be held in Cairns, with all 18 AFLW clubs being housed in the region, playing over the one weekend.

Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said the AFL should definitely look into hosting it here.

“They would be foolish not to use what we have here in Cairns,” Cr Olds said.

“We have arguably the best regional grounds in the country.

“We should be the number one pick on everyone’s minds.

Cairns Regional Council and AFL Cairns has set an ambitious plan to host the inaugural AFL Women's gather round at Cazalys Stadium. Cairns deputy mayor Brett Olds, AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees and mayor Amy Eden want to mimic the success of the AFL's Gather Round by hosting an entire round of the AFL Women's premiership at Cazalys Stadium. Picture: Brendan Radke

“What the AFLW and NRLW do is go to the regional towns and play games in regional areas.

“So why wouldn’t you come to Cairns and use what we have to offer.

“As I said, Cazalys is arguably the best regional playing surface in Australia.

“The AFL know how good Cazalys is, they used it during the Covid year when we had the hub.

“And we probably wouldn’t have all nine games at Cazalys Stadium anyway.

“Could you imagine playing two games up in Port Douglas?”

Cazalys Stadium has hosted an AFL game between 2011-2022, expect in 2019.

Since then, the region hosted the first AFLW game in 2023, with Hawks playing the Tigers.

Patricipation in AFLW Cairns senior women’s competitions has increased 9.98 per cent this season, showing the growth in the sport.

The round could see four games played at Cazalys Stadium, two games in Port Douglas and one game each at Fretwell Park, Griffiths Park and either Watsons Oval or Crathern Oval.

“We get all 18 teams up here, they come with support crew, coaches, staff, probably be about 40-50 per team,” Cr Olds said.

“Then you would think they would bring their families up here as well.

“But it is not just instant spend for that weekend.

“When they come up here and see the place, they come back up here for a holiday and bring the family as well.

“It is the same thing when we have the defence force come up here and run exercises, they end up coming back with their families at a later date.

“So the instant impact, the sugar hit will be in the millions of dollars to Cairns and our local businesses.

Advance Cairns Chief executive Jacinta Reddan said it was a wonderful opportunity for the region.

“I think it would be an excellent place to hold the first ever event of this magnitude in Cairns,” Reddan said.

“Just look at how well Adelaide have done the men’s Gather Round, the business it brings, the tourism, the build up.

“It would be wonderful to have Cairns the showpiece for the AFLW to do the same thing.

“AFLW does go more to regional towns, so it would make sense with the beautiful place that Cairns is.

“We want to be the showpiece for women’s sport and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to prove that.”

Cairns has some of the country’s most picturesque views, including the mountain ranges, the ocean views, the Atherton Tablelands back drop and the Great Barrier Reef.

During the months of August to October, Cairns reaches temperatures of 30 degrees while the rest of the southern states struggle to reach 20.

“Take the red eye if you are coming from WA, I think it is about a five hour flight,” Cr Olds said.

“You could be in that cold little hole in South West Australia and freezing.

“Or you could be spending some time in 28-degree heat in the middle of winter up here.

“I mean where would you rather be, it is not even a question.

“Lets stay in Melbourne where it is freezing, or Perth where it is freezing or lets go to Cairns and have a holiday while your wives or partners play footy.”

Originally published as Take it to the tropics! Queensland’s bold bid to host the inaugural AFLW Gather Round