AFL officials are busy ahead of next weekend's third premiership fixture at Cazalys Stadium, but even more frantic behind the scenes ensuring it is not the last to head to the Far North.
Next Saturday, Richmond will play the third of the three home games they switched to Cairns from Melbourne and the club have made it clear it will not be extending that deal.
No other club has been announced to replace them, but AFL officials are confident it will happen before next season's fixture is released.
AFL Cairns boss Gary Young said he was confident AFL would be played in Cairns next year. "It just might not be in the same format," he said.
"It might be different teams each year for example. But we know the AFL wants to continue bringing games up here, that's for certain."
Young said they were putting together a proposal to entice Tourism and Events Queensland to come to the party too. "It'll be a complete AFL in Queensland package that includes the draft on the Gold Coast, NAB Cup in Townsville, the premiership match at Cazalys and second tier events like the under-16 nationals and womens nationals," he said.
"We've got to show it's good for the city and I'm confident that it is."
Richmond have been supportive of the experience, but after losing both games to the Suns on previous trips have said that on-field success needed to come first.
The Suns have benefited though, winning games and fans after two cracking games of football.
Young said the sight of footy fans on the hill in shorts and thongs in the middle of winter was a big drawcard for Victorian clubs.
"You'd like to see the Suns back up here, given what's happened the last two years," he said.
"Logic says it's going to be a team that would struggle to get a big crowd to a Suns game when they play it in Melbourne."
A crowd of about 12,000 is expected for the game next weekend, more than the previous two instalments.
Last Modified on 09/08/2013 13:48