World Footy News

The eyes of the AFL supporting world will be firmly fixed on two northern Australian cities – Darwin and Cairns – in coming weeks as the highest level of the game continues to reach out to audiences across Australia. Fans will be flocking into TIO Stadium in Darwin and Cazalys Stadium in Cairns as the Melbourne Demons, Fremantle Dockers, Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs pack their bags and head north.

Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory, will host its one and only premiership match for the season. With a capacity of 14,000, TIO Stadium is sure to have a huge crowd on deck for the game.

A few weeks back the Melbourne Demons hosted the Port Adelaide Power at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs (the same venue hosted an NAB Challenge between the Demons and the Geelong Cats in the pre-season). This time it is the relaxed, tropical city of Darwin that gets its chance to shine.

On Saturday 5th July, the Paul Roos coached Demons host last year’s grand finalists, the frugal Ross Lyon coached Fremantle Dockers. For Melbourne the game will be another step in their evolution under Roos from perennial cellar-dwellers into a defence minded team capable of upsetting better placed teams.

LEFT: Darwin's TIO Stadium

For Fremantle the game presents itself as another chance to consolidate a top four finish at the end of the home and away rounds. Darwin fans will be treated to an exciting game featuring super talents such as Matthew Pavlich, Nat Fyfe, Nathan Jones and Jeremy Howe.

The following weekend Cairns will see the Gold Coast Suns return to town to take on the Western Bulldogs. The city in tropical Far North Queensland gets another great show for locals to get behind. Cazalys Stadium is in pristine condition awaiting the clash.

The Gold Coast team, coached by Guy McKenna, is finals bound in 2014 and have won two of their three games at Cazalys, losing narrowly last year to Richmond. This year the Suns are fighting to hold their place in the eight and play in their first ever finals series.

But the boys from Whitten Oval in Footscray will want to have a large say in that as they continue to rebuild under Brendan McCartney. The Cairns crowds can again marvel at the skills of Gary Ablett, Harley Bennell and young gun Jaeger O’Meara whilst Luke Dalhaus, Adam Cooney and possibly Ryan Griffen will lead a Bulldog team intent on claiming Cairns as their new home away from home.

World Footy News will provide more information about these games over the coming week as preparations continue in these two northern Australian cities for their Northern Exposure.

BELOW: Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns