West Coast’s planning for life in a Gold Coast hub has clicked up a gear after confirmation of the return to football fixtures on Monday.
The Eagles are set to depart for south-east Queensland in the week leading up to their round two clash with the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, June 13.
Adam Simpson’s men will then face Brisbane (Gabba) and Port Adelaide (Metricon) in away games, before hosting a blockbuster ‘home’ clash with reigning premier Richmond at Metricon on Thursday, July 2.
“Definitely having the fixture today gives us plenty to plan around. A few logistics that we have to work through still as a club, but it’s good to have it all in concrete to work with,” General Manager – Football Craig Vozzo told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“They’re all tough AFL games these days but we understood we’d be playing away games and obviously the ‘home’ game at the end is something that equitably has been spread across all the interstate clubs that will be based in Queensland, so it’s a fair outcome - look forward to having Richmond up there too.
“The advantage of having a home game up in Queensland will be obviously signage for our sponsors … and it will be part of history hosting Richmond on the Gold Coast.”
The club is still finalising a departure date and Gold Coast facilities including an oval, gym and aquatic centre before temporarily relocating to help get the season back underway.
“We’ve got the four games in 20 days. We’re planning – we’ve said all along – to be away for a month, so in the pre-game and then leading into that (Suns) fixture we’re planning the month away and then back to Perth,” Vozzo said.
“Before we play Gold Coast at Metricon in round two we’ll look to have a main training session at Metricon hopefully on the Wednesday before that game, and then our Captain’s Run as well.
“By then hopefully we’ll have acclimatised, know our facilities and feel a bit more at home.”
Vozzo confirmed the majority of West Coast’s playing group would travel east, except some battling injuries.
“With the players, they’re just excited to start playing and performing, that’s what they’re here to do,” he said.
Plans are still being put in place to provide match practice for those players not selected in the AFL team each week, with game simulation exercises against Fremantle, Port Adelaide or Adelaide players in the works.
“It may well be there’s a ‘buddy’ type situation where each club is 'buddied' with another club and you can work towards how you get game fitness into the back end guys who haven’t played in a senior game,” Vozzo said.
“So that’s still a work in progress, but we’re confident we’ll get the right outcome.”
