A war is brewing between the Gold Coast Suns and the AFL over the club’s commitment to playing home games in Darwin. After the Suns’ victory over Port Adelaide last Friday, coach Damien Hardwick put the issue on the agenda, saying his club was being asked to promote the game in both South East Queensland and Australia’s Top End.
While the Suns’ record in Darwin is first class (10-2), the club is making it clear it wants more games at its own stadium, People First Stadium. The Suns have not played there in the past fortnight, will face North Melbourne in Melbourne this Saturday, and then have a bye. Earlier this year, the Suns also had an extended break from People First Stadium, playing Richmond at the MCG in Round 2, having a bye in Round 3, heading back to the MCG in Round 4, and then traveling to South Australia for Gather Round.
“What I do know is we’re charged with the responsibility of growing the game in South East Queensland. We’ve also got a responsibility to grow the game up here. We’d also love to have some more home games in Queensland as well,” Hardwick said last Friday. “Where that ends up, I’m not too sure. There’s people, obviously, that will enter negotiations.”
Expert Analysis on the Tension
Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson said tension between the Suns and the AFL was now rising quickly. “They certainly want out for one game. I think they’re happy to play one,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
AFL expert Kane Cornes said, on the surface, it seemed like a strange decision from a performance point of view. “They’re 10-2, it’s a nightmare to go and play them there. They stay there for two weeks. You’ve got no hope going there to win ... because they get used to the climate, the conditions. So from a performance point of view, it suits them. What’s their reason?” Cornes said.
Reasons for the Pushback
Wilson said the Suns were tired of not being at home. “Damien Hardwick said it, ‘We’re here to develop the game in the South East Queensland.’ When they get back to the Gold Coast finally to play their next home game there, it’ll be four weeks’ absence. We know they had a massive absence from there earlier in the year. So the Gold Coast Suns are saying, ‘we’re never there. We’re never at our home ground.’ So that’s one reason.
“They also say, and I think Damien Hardwick made this clear last year, and he’s supported by his footy department ... and his board, that by the end of the year, they say that they’re generally pretty stuffed. It’s exhausting. It’s exhausting to spend 10 days up at the Gold Coast.”
Potential AFL Response
Of course, the competition funds Gold Coast and Wilson said there was every chance the commission might say tough luck. “(They might say): ‘Bad luck. It’s your area. It’s your territory. You go up there and you play two more home games in Darwin. Stop complaining.’ I reckon it’s on now between the Gold Coast Suns and the AFL commission,” Wilson said.
“(The Suns) seem angry. Look, they do play very well up there, but I can understand their reasons. And I can understand that they see themselves now as a potential preliminary final team, and they don’t want anything to detract from that. So this is going to be a ding-dong battle.”
Player and Coach Perspectives
Premiership hero Dale Thomas said he understood where the Suns were coming from. “If they’re not back playing on their home deck in the Gold Coast for four weeks, as it turns out, with travel and then back to Melbourne this week, no doubt (that takes its toll). And at the time, when they did this deal, they weren’t contending for premiership. So I think they would have aptly taken the loss of what might have been perfect preparation for the incentives of money and funding. (But) now they’re playing for premierships and I imagine that Damien Hardwick goes, ‘no, we need to do everything we can to be the best football side,’ not what’s best for the (competition).”
Cornes also said it was a long time for some of the senior players to be away from their family. “I can understand they want to be a serious footy team,” Cornes said.
