Countdown to AFL Premiership match in Tropical North Queensland

The countdown is on for the AFL Premiership match to be played at Cairns' Cazalys Stadium this Saturday, 14th July.

Events Queensland is reporting a strong response from fans across the region for the Toyota AFL Premiership match between Richmond and the Gold Coast SUNS. Supported by the Queensland Government, through Events Queensland, as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events across the State, the games will be broadcast with a live national telecast on Fox Sports.

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Jann Stuckey said the match was a great boost for the region; last year attracting close to 11,000 people, stating "Cairns will welcome thousands of AFL fans to the 2012 Toyota Premiership Match at Cazalys Stadium this weekend, continuing the success of the event for Tropical North Queensland - which last year delivered an economic impact of $3 million.

"Supporting events like the AFL Premiership match reflects the Newman Government's commitment to double Queensland's overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.

"We look forward to welcoming the Richmond Tigers to Queensland as they take on the Gold Coast SUNS this weekend."

The match will cap off a week-long program of activity designed to engage and develop the AFL community. In addition to a series of three invitational matches against a team from Geelong College, 300 local students from 12 schools are competing in the North Queensland Secondary Schools Cup running from Wednesday through to Saturday.

There is also a Leadership Forum for players in the representative teams and a Coaching Forum for local coaches both featuring players and coaches from Richmond and the GC SUNS.

Speaking ahead of a two-day trip to Cape York, AFL General Manager for National and International Development Andrew Dillon said it was great to be playing in Cairns.

Dillon explained "playing an AFL match in major centres like Cairns gives the AFL the chance to build all levels of the game and work in with the local community.

"We have players teaching young kids about leadership, AFL level coaches sharing their knowledge with local coaches and hundreds of students with the opportunity to play competition AFL and learn about career options, all as a part of holding an AFL Match in Cairns, it's fantastic."

Tickets are on sale from Cazalys Social Club and TicketDirect at www.ticketdirect.com.au 

Image: Cairns' Cazalys Stadium

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