2 days ago
Cairns bids to be Hawthorn's second home once Tasmania enters the AFL
Cairns is pitching itself as a potential second home for AFL powerhouse Hawthorn, should the Hawks' long-standing deal with the Tasmanian government end in two years.
Football powerbrokers in Far North Queensland want to lock in regular AFL men's premiership matches, which Cairns last hosted in 2022.
AFL Cairns and the Queensland government already have a three-year deal with Hawthorn, whose AFLW side will play a third home game in as many years at Cazalys Stadium next month.
AFL Cairns and Cazalys Stadium general manager Craig Lees said he made the case for more elite men's football when AFL chief Andrew Dillon visited Far North Queensland last month.
Mr Lees said Cairns wanted to replace Launceston as the Hawks' interstate base once the Tasmania Devils entered the AFL — a move which could bring up to four home-and-away matches a year to the far north from 2028.
"That is our focus, to try and see if we can unlock those destination games," he said.
Hawthorn has publicly declared its desire to continue hosting matches in Tasmania even after the Devils enter the competition, despite opposition from Devils CEO Brendon Gale.
The Hawks have been contacted for comment.
Cairns is also exploring the idea of teaming up with the Northern Territory, which intends to bid for a licence to become the AFL's 20th team should the code continue to expand.
Mr Lees confirmed he had already had discussions with AFLNT.
"I don't think a one-out 20th licence in Cairns works," he said.
"However, we are happy to play our role in what that may look like in the future."
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, who also met with Mr Dillon, is a former Territorian and has backed a partnership with the NT.
"One of the things we pitched to Andrew Dillon was maybe a northern Gather Round, where we share it with Darwin," she said.
"We are quite regional in that sense, and if we can produce world-class events and do it together, then it just cements both of our successes in the future."
Cazalys Stadium is hosting a Twenty20 cricket series decider between Australia and South Africa on Saturday night, ahead of a one-day international on Tuesday.
Mr Lees said another goal was to secure Olympic cricket if the sport was added to the 2032 games program.
Assistant state tourism minister Bree James said the government was "unashamedly chasing sporting events" to bring to Queensland.
"I think all options are on the table and I think our minister for sport will be looking at any negotiations he can that improves the sport we have in our state," she said.
One of the Barron River MP's constituents, 12-year-old Ollie Hourigan, has launched an online petition to bring an AFL team to Cairns.
"I've been putting that on my social media for him, so I'm very supportive of having an elite team like that here in Far North Queensland," Ms James said.
