Gold Coast SUNS CEO Mark Evans has launched a spirited defence of Gold Coast football after Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim discredited the SUNS when urging the AFL to map out a path for Tasmania to have men’s and women’s teams by 2023. 

Evans described McKim’s comments as “un-Australian” after the Tasmanian Senator claimed the SUNS were failing and the licence should be given to Tasmania.

Speaking on Sportsday Radio on Tuesday night, Evans pointed to the football participation numbers in Queensland as clear evidence of the sport’s health up north.

“Some people pull apart Queensland and particularly Gold Coast saying that it’s not valid or valuable,” Evans said.

“But if I was to say to you, where are there more participants in AFL, in Tasmania or Queensland? It’s Queensland by a truckload.

“If I said to you are there more participants in South Australia or Queensland, it’s still Queensland. 

“If you add Tasmania, South Australia and Northern Territory together, you’re getting close to the level of participation in Queensland.”

Tasmania has been a long-time petitioner for an AFL side, but were overlooked when the AFL decided to expand into the Gold Coast and Western Sydney instead.

Evans was staunch when asked to comment on the fact McKim was gunning for Gold Coast’s license.

“I won’t ever discredit Tassie’s desire for an AFL team, but it’s not quite right to then go and point to another franchise and say ‘we want a team at their demise’,” Evans said.

“That’s un-Australian.”

In recent years, doubters have pointed to the SUNS’ ladder position and have been quick to discount the validity of a team on the Gold Coast.

But Evans had a quickfire response to anyone who suggests there isn’t enough talent north of the Barassi Line.

“At eight years young, you can understand that quite a lot of participants are kids and are still yet to come through, let alone flourish up into our proper Academy talent pathway program,” Evans said.

“But it will happen.

“There’s a school here on the Gold Coast, Palm Beach Currumbin, they’ve had five draftees to us in the last two years. 

“Most of them (are) at rookie level, but it shows you that it will work over time.”