A NORTH Queensland team is set to feature in a revamped NEAFL structure set to be announced as early as today.
It's believed the new NEAFL will include 14 teams with the automatic inclusions of AFL reserve sides Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS and Sydney as well as NT Thunder and a new North Queensland team.
The remaining suburban clubs from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Canberra will need to re-apply for their licences and meet strict on-field and off-field criteria, as the competition strives to become more elite.
A North Queensland presence in the competition has been years in the making and AFL Cairns boss Gary Young is confident it will finally happen.
"There has been a lot said about changes to the competition to make it really reflect a second-tier to the AFL," Young said.
"We're getting very close to an announcement, maybe tomorrow but certainly in the next week or so. Everyone is very keen for this to happen; it's just the fine details now."
He said the team would receive small-scale support, similar to that of the Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants, to help establish the organisation.
"The same principle, but on a very small scale, let's make that clear. Budget is something we've been very wary of and right now we think there's no reason this North Queensland team can't still be here in 25 years.
"And let's not beat around the bush; the ideal outcome is for that team to one day play in the AFL."
The side will become a direct pathway to the AFL for young players from Mackay to Cape York. But it is expected that more-established talents from around Australia will head north for a crack at the big-time in a different market.
AFL PNG general manager Murray Bird has also backed the concept, saying his stars are "ready to go".
"We have nine players on scholarship playing high levels in Australia at the moment and we could have 40 if a team was based in Cairns," he said. "We are ready to go now if the button is pushed."
Young said the AFL's support of a Cairns-based NEAFL team would have no bearing on the future of an AFL game being played in Cairns.
"They are completely separate issues and I know they are still highly supportive of it," he said.
Last Modified on 03/10/2013 12:48