Gold Coast Suns aren’t ready for an AFLW team

COMMENT: The AFL should reject Gold Coast’s bid for an AFLW licence for the Suns’ own good and that of Queensland footy, writes ANDREW HAMILTON.

Leah Kaslar of the Brisbane Lions.

SLOW down, Suns.

The AFL should reject Gold Coast’s bid for an AFLW licence for the Suns’ own good and that of Queensland footy.

Brisbane’s AFLW side made the grand final last year and the whole exercise still ran at a loss.

The Suns aren’t ready. They haven’t yet worked out how to commercialise the men’s team and are criminally under-resourced.

WHO’S IN THE RUNNING: ALL THE AFLW BIDS

The Brisbane Lions’ women’s team was a roaring success as it went on an undefeated roll until the Grand Final.

However, the AFL are clearly uncertain what the competition looks like when the honeymoon period ends and have wisely delayed expansion until year three.

At some point the competition will be judged on the quality of the football.

And there just isn’t enough talent available yet. One strong side is better for the game than two mediocre ones.

Long term it is a no-brainer as the Under-18s girls talent in Queensland is superior to the over-25’s.

But the immediate consequence of the Suns receiving a women’s licence now would be no different to when they got their men’s team, they will cannibalise the Lions — in corporate and fan support and in talent.

The big fish would be Coolangatta’s Leah Kaslar. Brisbane would not have made the grand final without her.

Brisbane Lions star Leah Kaslar in action.

Once there are more Melbourne-based teams is will also become harder to recruit Victorians.

Kaitlyn Ashmore is likely to be a marquee player in an expanded competition.

If the Kangaroos get a team and play games out of Tassie, the girls from the Apple Isle such as Brittany Gibson and Jessica Wuetschner would also be hard to retain.

AFLW is the AFL’s newest baby and it doesn’t sit well at head office when some clubs have refused to jump on board.

Suns CEO Mark Evans was smart to bid. It keeps the AFL happy and if the Suns miss out, they will be first in line for the third expansion in a four or five years’ time.

Hopefully by then the AFL club is humming on and off the field and the gun juniors are ready to dominate at AFLW level.

They’re not there yet.

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns aren’t ready for an AFLW team