Gold Coast Suns CEO Mark Evans says Opening Round up north should be permanent AFL fixture
Talks are underway to bring the AFL’s Opening Round back to Queensland, with a club boss declaring it should be a permanent part of the AFL’s fixture in order to grow the game up north.
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High-level discussions between the Brisbane Lions and the AFL are under way to bring Opening Round back to Queensland in 2025 as Suns CEO Mark Evans declared the concept “should be locked in as a permanent fixture of the AFL calendar”.
Last week Giants CEO David Matthews said his club would lobby to turn Opening Round into an annual event when the AFL commission lands in Sydney for the season launch this week.
Now his counterparts in Queensland have added their voices to the call.
For the first time in history the AFL season will open with four matches – two each in Queensland and New South Wales – in a move that is already being hailed a major success for the northern market.
Each host club is forecasting a sellout crowd as momentum picks up ahead of the season launch in Sydney on Thursday, where the Swans will host Melbourne.
The eyes of the footy world will then descend on the Gabba on Friday night when the Lions host Michael Voss’ Carlton in a blockbuster preliminary final rematch.
Brisbane CEO Greg Swann declared the Lions’ Gabba fortress would be packed to the rafters to welcome the Blues to town and urged the AFL to double down on the Opening Round concept beyond this year.
“I’ve heard a few of the boys say the crowd is like having an extra man on the field, they love the noise, so we want our fans to bring the roar again in 2024,” Swann said.
“We’re ready to get the season under way and would like to lock down Opening Round again in 2025.”
Damien Hardwick will take charge of the Gold Coast Suns for the first time on Saturday when they welcome his former club Richmond to Heritage Bank Stadium.
The AFL script writers have been lauded for the decision to pit the Suns and Tigers against each other to usher in the Hardwick era on the Gold Coast.
And the pay-off could be massive for the Suns, who also expect to play in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday.
Even before a ball has been kicked in anger this week, Suns CEO Evans said he had seen enough to know the Opening Round concept was one worth keeping.
“Opening Round in Queensland and New South Wales should be locked in as a permanent fixture as part of the AFL calendar,” he said.
“With all four games expected to sell out, the impact it will have in growing the game throughout both states will be profound.
“The AFL must continue to lean into the concept. It’s not just about the fixtures, it’s everything that comes with it in terms of hosting events such as the AFL’s Season Launch in Sydney and the media coverage.”
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