Gold Coast SUNS captain Gary Ablett, Cairns Regional Council Cr Max O’Halloran and AFL Cairns President Gary Young were joined by 100 children from Edge Hill, Whitfield and Cairns West State Schools to launch the Round 15 Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast SUNS Toyota AFL Premiership match to be played at Cazalys Stadium, Cairns on Saturday July 11.
This will be the fifth Toyota AFL Premiership Season Match to be played in the Tropical North and the second time the Western Bulldogs have played an AFL match in Cairns.
AFL fans can secure their match tickets, flights and accommodation for the game today by booking an AFL Travel Package available on AFL.com.au/tickets.
The launch date for General Admission tickets has been brought forward in 2015, due to the overwhelming interest by interstate fans wanting to travel to Cairns in July to escape the southern winter, allowing local fans plenty of time to secure their match tickets.
A club member pre-sale will occur on Wednesday March 18, with General Admission tickets going on sale on Thursday March 19 from 9am AEST time.
Gold Coast SUNS captain Gary Ablett, who also acts as AFL Queensland’s Community Football Ambassador, said he was excited to be back in Cairns to launch the match for the 2015 season after missing last year’s Cairns game through injury.
“The Gold Coast SUNS have been warmly welcomed back to Cairns each year and it was disappointing to have missed last year’s match, the first against the Bulldogs here at Cazalys,” Ablett said.
“The week leading into the match will again be filled with events for the whole community to get involved in, such as NAB AFL Auskick and Junior Football clinics.”
“Having spent time up here over the past few years, I’d recommend everyone escapes the southern winter as AFL Comes Alive in Cairns this July.”
“North Queensland is a talent zone for the GC SUNS, so it’s great to have to the opportunity to play pre-season matches in Townsville and premiership season matches here in Cairns thanks to the support we receive from the AFL and the Queensland Government,” Ablett said.
AFL Cairns President, Gary Young, said today that the AFL’s commitment to fixture a Premiership season match for a fifth year has positive impacts on the community and participation in the region.
“The growth of AFL in Cairns has been boosted by having these premiership season matches played at Cazalys Stadium, the home of AFL in Cairns,” Young said.
“The support the game receives from the Clubs playing, the AFL, the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and the Cairns Regional Council is imperative to the success each year.”
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones said the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, was proud to support the Toyota AFL Premiership match in Cairns in July as part of the State’s major events calendar.
“Tropical North Queensland is perfect place for fans to escape the southern winter chill, support their team and stay on to enjoy more of what the region has to offer,” Ms Jones said.
“Events like this play an important role in growing tourism and a strong tourism industry means jobs for regional Queensland.”
Western Bulldogs Captain Bob Murphy said the Club was looking forward to playing their second AFL match in Cairns in 2015.
“We are very much looking forward to taking footy back up to Cairns and playing in front of the passionate local supporters as well as our dedicated fans who make the trip up north.”
“We felt the support from the crowd last year in what was a memorable win for us, and we’re hoping the support will be stronger again in July,” Murphy said.
Over 11,000 people are expected to attend the match on Saturday July 11 at 4:35pm local time.
For venue and match information please visit: AFL.com.au/tickets
A limited number of corporate hospitality opportunities are available and for further information please contact AFL Cairns on 07 4042 3000.
North Queensland AFL fans have their first opportunity of the year to witness top-flight AFL football in the NAB Challenge on Sunday when the Gold Coast SUNS take on the Geelong Cats, 3:40pm at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville. Tickets are still available to purchase via afl.com.au/nabchallenge
