AFL sides Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power played in Shanghai on Saturday.GETTY IMAGES
Australian Football League side Greater Western Sydney joined St. Kilda as a contender to play Port Adelaide in China next year, according to Jon Ralph of the HERALD SUN. The AFL will "officially review its latest China sojourn on Thursday" and prepare a report for the AFL commission as Gold Coast’s hopes of a '19 game "drift." Victorian Minister for Trade & Investment Philip Dalidakis "heavily lobbied the AFL to include a Melbourne team next year as part of a business delegation in Shanghai." St. Kilda "is seen as the perfect Victorian team to sell a home game" because it is "heavily in debt," wants to grow its commercial base and "has sold games overseas before." Tourism Australia’s "heavy investment in the game means it wants bang for buck," which means Sydney-based side GWS is seen as an "attractive contender" (HERALD SUN, 5/21). In Melbourne, Jon Pierik reported the Gold Coast Suns "have made it clear they will not return to Shanghai" for a third straight season. Dalidakis said on Monday that he would "continue to discuss the issue with the AFL." He said, "Which team that is, is a matter for the AFL. We just want a Victorian team so we can support the AFL's investment in the Australian-China relationship and use it as a model for sporting diplomacy." The Saints and Blues "had been touted as potential clubs when murmuring of change arose last year." But St. Kilda said on Monday that it "had not discussed the issue and it was not on the agenda." Carlton also said that a trip to Shanghai was not on its agenda (THE AGE, 5/21).
