Pies would be big on Gold Coast: Eddie - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Pies would be big on Gold Coast: Eddie

By Adam Cooper 12/12/2007 07:53:16 PM Comments (0)

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire believes the Magpies would be a "big hit" on the Gold Coast if the AFL favoured a part-time presence in the region instead of creating a 17th team.

McGuire has reiterated his belief that a model of Collingwood playing their games between Melbourne (home) and the Gold Coast (away) would be viable and satisfy the league's desire to have a greater presence in south-east Queensland.

Collingwood floated the idea past the AFL last month as an alternative to the relocation package offered by the league to the Kangaroos.

The Kangaroos last week rejected the AFL's offer and are committed to staying in Melbourne, which prompted the league to begin plans for granting a new licence.

"Part of the reason that Collingwood put forward the suggestion, and of even moving to a 24-game competition, would mean that the non-Victorian sides who would be playing Collingwood on the Gold Coast would not lose any home games," McGuire said.

"It would become a television bonanza, you'd save $50 million on the Kangaroos deal (from) day one, your TV rights would go through the roof, you'd have an extra two weeks of TV rights, gate receipts, et cetera.

"If Collingwood were to go to Queensland, everyone would make a quid from day one."

McGuire said it might be best having a well-supported club on the Gold Coast if the AFL wants to become successful in a new market.

"If we're going to take on these other sporting codes, you've got to send the big hitter up sometimes rather than send the teams on death's door," he said.

"We had 10,000 people turn up to training at Carrara only 18 months ago when Collingwood had a training camp up there.

"We pull great crowds wherever we play and we would be obviously a big hit."

McGuire said he remained open-minded about a proposed 17th team, but offered some doubts over the league establishing a second team in Sydney and 18th overall.

Sydney chairman Richard Colless this week said it was premature for the AFL to establish a second team in the Harbour City, and McGuire, whose club has held community camps in Sydney's west in recent years, agreed.

"There's still a fair bit of work (needed in Sydney), but that whole corridor right up the east coast of Australia is the major growth corridor and we have to be there," he said.

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