AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says AFL will be bigger than NRL in Queensland

As he defended the ongoing future of the Gold Coast Suns, outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan sent a shot across the bow of the NRL.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the game is booming in Queensland. Picture: Michael Klein

Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has boldly declared Queensland is an “AFL state” with more participants in Australian Rules than rugby league as questions over the Gold Coast Suns surface following the sacking of coach Stuart Dew.

While the Brisbane Lions sit third on the ladder and remain among the premiership favourites, the Suns are 14th and facing the prospect of failing to make the finals again, having never played in the post-season.

That lack of improvement resulted in Dew’s sacking this week after six seasons in charge, and the club remains an AFL problem despite hundreds of millions of dollars of investment by the league.

But McLachlan, who will be replaced by colleague Andrew Dillon this year, said the inroads the AFL had made in Queensland by having two clubs showed the overriding benefit, even claiming participation outstripped rugby league in the state.

“The growth in the football in Queensland has been dramatic, on the Gold Coast particularly,” McLachlan told 3AW on Friday.

“We’ll have more participants this year in Queensland than the NRL – first time we’ll break that record.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says Queensland participation is huge. Picture: Brad Fleet

“The ratings are comparable to South Australia, we will be the biggest sport in that market in Queensland in five to 10 years across most metrics.

“Queensland is pumping and becoming an AFL state. But (Gold Coast) haven’t played finals yet and they need to and the board want them to and that’s why they are making these tough decisions.”

But McLachlan was adamant the Suns were not a “basket case” and would be supported by the league.

“Two weeks ago they sold out the game against Collingwood. They have made a decision that feels like a club that has decided to grow up in my view,” he told 3AW.

“And there is a new chairman (Bob East) who has made a very difficult decision and these things play out publicly and I feel for Stuart Dew and his family. It’s very tough, but this is a decision of a football club that says, ‘We are playing finals, we haven’t played finals with Stuart in six years’, and they are making a hard-edged football decision that feels like they are growing up, personally.

“It’s the right decision because they want to play finals.”

Speculation remains rife that triple-premiership winning Richmond coach Damien Hardwick could take over in 2024 after stepping away from the Tigers earlier this season.