Hub clubs failing to fire on Gold Coast a warning for future travellers

The Eagles are a fortnight into their hub stay and the longer they are based on the Gold Coast, the more damage it is doing to their flag prospects.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson at the Gabba, where the Eagles were soundly beaten by Brisbane on Saturday. Picture: AAP

The Eagles are a fortnight into their hub stay and the longer they are based on the Gold Coast, the more damage it is doing to their premiership prospects.

They were outplayed for the second week in succession, beaten by Brisbane by 30 points on Saturday night.

Nor has the foray north improved the fortunes of Adelaide, who were embarrassed by the Suns in a 53-point loss in their first match in the hub.

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Port Adelaide, who arrived in Queensland last Friday, scored the first win for a visiting side, beating fellow travellers Fremantle with ease at Metricon Stadium on Sunday night.

The Dockers led by a goal at quarter-time but the Power broke the match open with five unanswered majors in the second quarter and were never in danger of being caught, running out winners by 10.10 (70) to 6.5 (41).

The 29-point win maintained Port’s unbeaten record and leaves them clear leaders at the top of the ladder.

The lack of success of the teams based in the surfing paradise is a legitimate concern for the Victorian and Sydney-based clubs should they be sent west to a possible Perth hub later this year to ensure the season is able to proceed.

The AFL and the Western Australia government have held discussions for months regarding the border and quarantine regulations for the Perth-based clubs when they return from Queensland, and also on the prospect of matches being played in the state.

After West Coast coach Adam Simpson declared the Eagles would stay on the Gold Coast for no longer than their round 5 clash against Richmond, the AFL’s head of fixturing Travis Auld confirmed the Dockers and Eagles will return home in early July.

The Queensland government is monitoring the health situation in Victoria and will make an assessment on the Tigers flying north for the July 2 clash against the Eagles later this month.

The AFL’s general counsel Andrew Dillon said the league was considering options including using a hub in Perth to ensure the season progresses.

“I understand from my discussions with West Coast and also Fremantle … what the players and staff would really like is some certainty,” Dillon told the ABC.

“That’s why we’re hopeful of the discussions that we’re having with the WA government, that we can have enough certainty there that we can give West Coast and Fremantle some certainty as to how long they will stay in Queensland, and what it will look like for them when they come back to WA.”

Western Australia premier Mark McGowan said the AFL raised the idea of basing a hub in Perth in the weeks following the suspension of the season in March.

“The AFL wrote to us at the beginning and suggested a hub in Western Australia. They came up with the idea,” McGowan said.

“We then went back to them and said, ‘Yes, we’re happy to do that, if it has the appropriate quarantine and safety measures in place’. They then withdrew the offer and then after a lot of consideration and discussion, they ended up with the Gold Coast model. What’s going on in Australia is bigger than football and football needs to understand that the health and welfare of our citizens is paramount.

“We’re talking to the AFL. If they’d like to have a hub here on the basis that it’s safe and within the appropriate quarantine, we’ll obviously entertain that.”