World Footy News

It is just a short six weeks until the far North Queensland city of Cairns hosts its annual AFL Premiership match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Western Bulldogs. It is a game which has put the city on the national AFL landscape, and bought the wonderful Cazalys Stadium to a national audience.

But according to some, that exposure could come to an end this year unless the people of the northern city get behind the game and get along in droves to show everyone that we are, in fact, an AFL worthy venue with an even bigger future.

Cairns Mayor, Bob Manning, was quoted on the Fox Sports Pulse AFL Cairns site stating that an NRL fixture earlier this year between reigning premiers the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canberra Raiders attracted a smaller crowd that expected. ““It was disappointing that we didn’t get a better turnout to the South Sydney game and we’ll be lucky to get another NRL game now,” Mr Manning said. “That’s why I urge people to support the AFL when it’s on here.”
He refers to the previous year when 16,000 Cairns and far North Queensland fans watched the Rabbitohs play Queensland team the Gold Coast Titans. This year just 9,000 people watched the NRL fixture at the Barlow Park venue.

Whilst Rugby League is a different game with a different following, it is important to note that last year’s Cazalys crowd for the Suns/Bulldogs game was down slightly on previous years. Manning is simply issuing the warning to locals that if they want these national competition games to continue into the future they have to support the games through attendance.

The idea is something that AFL Cairns President Gary Young is also mindful of. The enormous growth of the game since AFL matches have been played in the city is proof that the two are linked. More high level matches equates to more kids taking up the game. If the city lost the games there is a risk of a corresponding drop in support. Not guaranteed, but possible.

Gary Young stated on the Fox Sport Pulse site that ““This is our one chance of the year to watch a game live and a lot of organisations invest in this, but will only continue to do so if it is worth it. I want it to go for as long as possible but if we only get 8000 or so there again this year you’d have to ask if it is.”

“And there’s nothing better than watching a game live; even walking to the ground you get caught up in the atmosphere.”

According to Western Bulldogs defender, Dale Morris, who was in Cairns this week to help promote that game, his club enjoys coming to the city. He cites the weather and the playing surface at Cazalys Stadium as key reasons for coming, but admits that the players themselves really enjoy the experience.

Morris was quoted by Fox Sports as saying that “we do like coming here, playing in front of a passionate crowd and we have lots of loyal members who enjoy the trip away too.”

So the gauntlet has been thrown down to the City of Cairns. Get along to Cazalys Stadium for the AFL Round 15 clash between the Gold Coast Suns and the Western Bulldogs on Saturday 11th July.

With the Gold Coast Suns eager to improve with players returning from injuries, and the Western Bulldogs having started the season better than many expected, it is sure to be a huge game – and one that deserves a huge, raucous, AFL loving Cairns crowd.

For what it’s worth, I have my tickets. Get yours!

(Picture: http://www.zimbio.com)

For the original Fox Sports Pulse AFL cairns story go to: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_pa...53234&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=34791213