A real shame particularly when Cairns representatives are so keen to see it happen. 2006 and the moving of games from the MCG due to construction works is going to be a nightmare for AFL HQ.AFL appears cold on Cairns bid
February 20, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Breaking-New ... 58855.html
Cairns' bid to host an AFL premiership match early next season appears doomed, regardless of whether Melbourne is interested.
A league spokesman said the north Queensland venue was not in the AFL's plans for how to cope with the unavailability of the MCG, which will be out of action for the first six weeks of the 2006 premiership season due to post-Commonwealth Games reconstruction.
"Cairns is not in our minds for a premiership match," the spokesman said.
Demons coach Neale Daniher said after the win over Brisbane at Cairns that his side's performance during next week's Wizard Cup quarter-final could determine whether the city has any chance of hosting a regular season match.
Cairns had been one of three venues being assessed by Melbourne officials as potential alternatives to the MCG, their regular home ground.
The Demons thrashed an undermanned Brisbane side by 45 points in front of 9,486 fans at Cazaly Stadium.
Daniher said player welfare was a major concern, with the steamy North Queensland heat and humidity forcing players to make several trips to a cold room set at just three degrees Celsius during the contest.
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Advertisement"We've been courted by Tasmania, we've been courted by Southport (Gold Coast) and we've been courted by Cairns and we'll sit back and look at all that," Daniher said.
"There are a lot of things that need to happen but from a coaching point of view I'm interested in seeing how the boys come up after this game.
"It'll be interesting to see how lethargic or how well we go on say Wednesday or Thursday next week as well as if we can still play with energy next weekend."
Melbourne, hit by serious financial constraints over the past few seasons, signed a new four-season deal with Brisbane in 2004 where the Demons continue to play one "home" game a year at the Gabba.
The club could stand to make as much as $500,000 by hosting the one-off match in Cairns yet Daniher said the board would take its time in making a decision.
"We're a long way from making a decision about coming to Cairns, it would be premature for people to think that," he said.
"We've been approached and we're talking to Cairns representatives but we're also talking to a lot of other people."
Meanwhile, it looks like Sydney's Telstra Stadium may be getting the Essendon v Collingwood 2006 Anzac Day clash. Can you imagine the outcry in Melbourne if that does actually eventuate.
