CAIRNS is set to launch a bold bid to field a composite North Queensland team in a semi-national Australian rules football competition.
Local AFL officials have prepared a detailed business plan to prove a locally-based team would succeed in the 2012 North East AFL, a competition to be played with teams from Queensland, NSW, Northern Territory and Canberra.
The bid is the boldest move yet by AFL Cairns to capitalise on growing interest in the code in north Queensland and bring regular higher standard matches to the region.
If the plan is successful, Cairns would have the AFL equivalent of the successful Northern Pride Queensland Cup rugby league side.
It would also give Australian rules players an ideal springboard into the AFL, particularly as a feeder club to the new franchise Gold Coast Suns.
The opportunity adds further proof that the football code is gaining strength in the Far North and follows news that Cairns will host AFL premiership games between Richmond Tigers and Gold Coast Suns over the next three seasons.
The business plan was completed this week after AFL Cairns boss Gary Young spent four months collaborating with local club officials, AFL Queensland and the Northern Territory Thunder
franchise.
Thanks to The Cairns Post, please read more at: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/12/15/140401_local-news.html
Last Modified on 10/05/2011 16:36