A Q-CLASH to kick-off the 2014 season in a shotgun start with the NRL's fixture list is in the pipeline as the AFL plans its latest assault on rugby league's stranglehold on the northern states.
The AFL is planning a downgrade of the NAB Cup and re-scheduling the premiership season opener to go head-to-head with the NRL to help the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions, as well as the two Sydney AFL sides, gain a stronger foothold in the expansion markets.
The pre-season tournament is an annual headache for the game here in Queensland.
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The unavailability of the Gabba and a marginal commitment from broadcasters ensures the Lions and Suns fans rarely get a chance to see their sides play.
The Lions and Suns start their premiership seasons on Saturday, 22 days after the year's first NRL game in Queensland, which was at Suncorp Stadium.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou admitted the code could no longer afford to give its major winter competitors such a head start.
"I don't think it is sustainable for our competition," he said at the Gold Coast yesterday. "We are four weeks behind the NRL and the Super 15 competitions and that makes it very hard for the two clubs in this state to generate any oxygen.
"We have to do something about it."
Cricket commitments at the Gabba and SCG would make an earlier start a scheduling nightmare for the AFL, but Demetriou said there was enough alternative venues and the option of staggered opening rounds to make it achievable.
Talks are progressing with the MCC to get access to Melbourne's No.1 stadium earlier, which would pave the way for the competition to start in the second week of March.
Suns chief executive Travis Auld said his side wanted the opportunity to kick-start the season and there is an understanding at AFL House the earlier push into Queensland would only work with a blockbuster at Metricon Stadium.
"To make it work we have to give some thought to opening the season up with a rivalry game against the Lions," Auld said.
Demetriou also defended the decision to stage the NAB Cup grand final between Brisbane and Carlton at Etihad Stadium and claimed greater gate taking was not the incentive despite claims to the contrary made by AFL staffers.
"We felt that the Brisbane Lions deserved a home final and their home ground is the Gabba," he said.
"We did not think their support would have translated to the GC Suns football ground.
"There is going to be a rivalry between the Suns and Lions and if we try and trick up this ground and pretend it is the Brisbane Lions game for a grand final I don't think it would have had the same effect."
His comments cast immediate doubts over the ongoing credibility of the NAB Cup, given Brisbane will never have access to the Gabba.
"That is a point that we have thought about," he said.
"While there is no doubt there is a plus for a pre-season competition going forward, what shape and form that takes to give us some credibility we have to consider.
"Should we be thinking about having a smaller pre-season competition and maybe and extend the season, should we look at have a different competition, we have to keep an open mind."
