GWS Giants join St Kilda has contender to play Port Adelaide in China next year
A new club has joined St Kilda as a contender to play Port Adelaide in China next year with Gold Coast set to drop out as host of the game in Shanghai.
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GREATER Western Sydney has joined St Kilda as a contender to play Port Adelaide in China next year.
The AFL will officially review its latest China sojourn on Thursday and prepare a report for the AFL commission as Gold Coast’s hopes of a 2019 game drift.
Victorian trade minister Philip Dalidakis heavily lobbied the AFL to include a Melbourne team next year as part of a business delegation in Shanghai.
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St Kilda is seen as the perfect Victorian team to sell a home game because they are heavily in debt, want to grow their commercial base and have sold games overseas before.
Gold Coast has lost its two China games by 112 points, with its football department to be heavily consulted if it was to return.
Tourism Australia’s heavy investment in the game means it wants bang for buck, which means Sydney-based side GWS is seen as an attractive contender.
A significant percentage of western Sydney has an Asian heritage, which would help building interest and business links.
AFL executive David Stevenson said the league was open to all options as it seeks to continue aggressively growing the game.
“We have spent our time getting the game right. We will do a pretty comprehensive review on Thursday going through all aspects of the game,” he said.
“We are in touch with the Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide and will do an update for the commission and then think about how to make next year bigger and better.
“Gold Coast are the incumbent, we have had two years there and they have done a grat job this year with a strong business delegation there.
“Full credit to them for elevating their attention this year.”
While Gold Coast are understood to have made well in excess of $500,000 and leveraged sponsorship and business deals, it also comes at a price.
Selling home games to neutral venues lessens the chance of on-field wins, with the Suns attempting to keep Tom Lynch and rise up the ladder.
If a club like St Kilda sold a home game to China they would play a Port Adelaide side used to the international trip and venue and treating it like a home clash.
Gold Coast made a fortune selling a home game to the new Perth Stadium this year but effectively handed over the chance of a win given their inexperienced squad.
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