Gold Coast SUNS members and supporters are today celebrating the release of the 2012 AFL Premiership draw.
It’s a draw which will see some of the codes biggest teams run out onto Metricon Stadium in a variety of fan friendly time slots, including the leagues exciting new Saturday twilight games.
Gold Coast SUNS CEO Travis Auld said Gold Coasters should be thrilled with a draw which benefits not just Gold Coast SUNS fans, but the entire City.
“It is extremely pleasing to see that the AFL have taken both our fans and the local economy into consideration through a draw which not only provides a number of outstanding Premiership matches here at Metricon Stadium, but importantly time slots that we are confident will be appealing to both local and travelling supporters of the code.”
The Gold Coast SUNS clash with Collingwood this year attracted 7,000 Magpie supporters, generating well in excess of $5 million dollars into the local economy and Auld is confident bumper clashes against Essendon and Carlton will yield similar results.
Popular Saturday night footy is back in 2012, with the GC SUNS set to contest five ‘Twilight’ encounters in 2012.
“The club invested considerable time post season, working with our members, corporate partners and supporters to gauge their feed back following our inaugural year in the AFL and the number of Twilight time slots we have received next season are a direct result of that feedback.”
The GC SUNS will play thirteen matches in Queensland, with ten games scheduled for Metricon Stadium. The Gold Coast SUNS will play ten matches at Metricon Stadium starting off with a home game against the Adelaide Crows on Saturday, March 31.
The Gold Coast SUNS and the Brisbane Lions will continue their QCLASH rivalry with two matches at the Gabba while Guy McKenna’s charges also return to Cairns for their Far Northern encounter against Richmond.
“We are extremely happy to once again play thirteen matches in Queensland, in 2012 we will have access to Metricon Stadium for the entire season, allowing us to play ten games at home and providing the Gold Coast community with more opportunities to watch their team play.”
“Importantly we again have the opportunity to travel back to Cairns in 2012. We saw during last years match against Richmond at Cazaly’s Stadium that we have a really strong supporter base in far north Queensland and this match will add to the work we already undertake in the area. ”
In 2012 the GC SUNS will play five games in Melbourne as well as games in Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Darwin, however importantly the Club will only make the long trek across to Western Australia once.
The new AFL TV broadcast deal see’s all GC SUNS matches televised live on Channel Seven’s digital station 7Mate throughout Queensland.
“Under the AFL’s new broadcast agreement, Gold Coast SUNS fans will receive comprehensive TV coverage of their team via the AFL’s broadcast partners, the Seven Network and FOX SPORTS. In addition, all FOX SPORTS matches will also be broadcast back into Queensland live on 7Mate, it’s a wonderful outcome for our fan base in our local market.”
While Traditional AFL heavyweights Essendon and Carlton will make their Metricon Stadium debuts in 2012, the clubs clash against the Kevin Sheedy coached GWS Giants looms as one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the regular season.
Click here to view the full 2012 GC SUNS fixture. Let us know what you think of our 2012 Fixture by commenting below.
