Top Officials hold back approval despite huge Far North Support.
There is still no set date on the expansion of Australian Rules in the Far North, with AFL officials not ready to put the sign of approval on a Cairns-based NEAFL side despite the concept carrying widespread support. AFL Queensland boss Michael Conlan was in Cairns last week to meet with AFL Cairns head Gary Young about the future of the sport in the region. Dates, time-frames and plans have been many and varied in regards to what's next, with Conlan stating on the weekend that an AFL team could be relocated to North Queensland by 2030. But Conlan told The Cairns Post in April that "2020, or at the very least 2025 there would be a team playing out of the North Queensland area." And in July last year general manager of the AFL's national and international development Andrew Dillon said an NEAFL team would be established by 2013 or 2014. Yesterday Young conceded that 2015 was a more realistic introduction point, considering their desire to ensure the team's sustainability. Young said despite nothing being concrete, it was just a matter of time. "Michael's very keen for it to happen and engage this area in the bigger football picture. There are just still things that we need to work on," Young said. All the teams competing in the NEAFL had approved of North Queensland's presence in the league, but they need to work out how to pay for it. Young said flights, accommodation, food, support staff, uniforms, training equipment, medical bills and game-day costs would amount to about $1000 weekly for each player. "It's ticking all the boxes," he said. "We just want to make sure a team would be there for the long term. "Having a team travelling every second week costs a lot of money and we are working out a lot of behind-the-scenes things." At the grassroots level things are positive, with the junior AFL Cairns clubs reporting a growth in memberhsip at last weekend's sign-ons. And players from interstate are still coming to play in the AFL Cairns seniors league with on eye on being part of a future NEAFL team.
Last Modified on 08/05/2013 13:36