No winners from Coast clash: Suns - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

No winners from Coast clash: Suns

By Laine Clark 15/03/2011 08:17:06 PM Comments (0)

The battle lines may have been drawn but Gold Coast AFL boss Travis Auld believes there will be no winners if the NRL attempts to flex its muscle and organise a Titans game day clash with the Suns.

The NRL has made it clear it wants to "own" the Gold Coast in 2011 with the Suns threat looming.

They scheduled as many feature games at the Titans' Skilled Park as they could ahead of the Suns' first official match at their redeveloped home ground on May 28 - a blockbuster against Geelong.

But the Suns have not been idle ahead of Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett's much anticipated clash with former club the Cats.

The Gold Coast AFL club revealed on Tuesday that their state-of-the-art $144.2 million new-look venue would be known as Metricon Stadium, thanks to a lucrative five-year deal with the leading home builders.

They will play their first three home games at the Gabba before the Gold Coast stadium is ready for action from round 10.

Unlike the AFL, the NRL schedule is not set in stone at the start of the year - ensuring there is the potential of a Suns-Titans clash in 2011.

Especially if the NRL wants to make a point about the Suns encroaching on their turf.

But Auld played the role of peacemaker on Tuesday.

"I am not sure anyone wins from a clash of fixtures," he told AAP.

"I am hopeful, and we have spoken to the Titans about this, that we can avoid any clashes.

"We don't want fans to have to make a choice.

"Ideally there won't be clashes but we would just have to wait and see."

While AFL boss Andrew Demetriou clearly wants to make inroads into Gold Coast's league heartland, Auld believed both the Suns and Titans could benefit from each other.

"As we built this club we took a lot of things from the Titans, the way the community has embraced them," he said.

"We have grabbed every part of that as we can and indoctrinated that into the club.

"I have no doubt there are things that we do that they can learn from as well.

"That will make both of us better as clubs."

Auld was not concerned about crowd numbers at their Gabba games - their historic debut against Carlton (Rd 2, April 2) plus Melbourne (Rd 4, April 17) and the derby clash with the Brisbane Lions (Rd 7, May 7).

As for the rest of their home games, Auld pleaded for Gold Coast fans to be patient.

Boasting a home game schedule that features the likes of Collingwood, St Kilda and Hawthorn certainly helps, though.

"We've got an amazing schedule," he said.

"(But) on the field we have to continue to show improvement and development.

"Already in our NAB Cup and Challenge games we have seen the excitement of our young list but we have also seen that it takes a while to develop - so it is going to take a bit of patience."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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