The Gold Coast SUNS will take on Essendon this Sunday 15 August at 3:20pm after the AFL today announced the fixture for Round 22 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

A venue is still to be confirmed for the match with the AFL and Gold Coast SUNS working to establish whether the game originally scheduled for Metricon Stadium, can still be played on the Gold Coast.

With the Queensland Government’s decision to end the lockdown in South-East Queensland on Sunday afternoon, crowds at a capacity of 50% will be allowed to return to stadiums within the region.

However, with the SUNS currently in lockdown in Victoria, certain guidelines will need to be established to allow the team to play the match at Metricon Stadium and then also compete in Round 23 against the Sydney Swans.

Alternatively, the game could be played in Victoria.

AFL Executive General Manager Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said he was excited about the final rounds of the home-and-away season.

“We are really looking forward to Round 22 with all nine matches influencing the make-up of the finals,” Mr Auld said.

“It is a tight race to the finish and while the pandemic will continue to challenge us over the coming weeks, as an industry, we will continue to adapt as we navigate those challenges.

“We will continue to make changes that best manage the current environment, progresses our season and protects the health and safety of those in our game and the wider community.

“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will work closely with respective State and Territory Governments, all AFL Clubs and other key stakeholders while ensuring the health and safety of the community remains paramount.”

The SUNS will endeavour to keep members and fans up to date with information as it’s confirmed including the potential of ticketing information if the game is to be played at Metricon Stadium.