Gold Coast Suns AFLW finals feat faces home-ground headache

The Gold Coast Suns have earned their place in the AFLW finals — but their reward could be a home final away from home.After back-to-back seasons near the bottom of the ladder, the Suns have surged into fourth spot with eight wins, booking their first finals appearance since 2023.A victory over GWS on Sunday would strengthen their grip on a double chance, guaranteeing a home final during the series.But there's a catch.Carrara Stadium is unavailable for weeks two, three and four of the finals series, due to Australia's T20 clash with England, leaving the Suns and the AFL searching for an alternative venue.Springfield, home of Queensland rivals the Brisbane Lions and an hour's drive up the highway, and Southport's Fankhauser Reserve are among the alternatives being considered.Southport however comes with a significant caveat — any final would need to be played during the day, when November temperatures average around 28 degrees and humidity can hover around 70 per cent.A spokesperson for the club said it is "working with all stakeholders on home venues for each week of the finals" where Carrara is not available."Our playing group and staff have been resolute all season in their efforts to play anywhere, anytime, across eight different venues and we know they'll take that attitude into any scenario that presents throughout the post-season campaign," the spokesperson said.Despite this, coach Rhyce Shaw said on Tuesday the club is embracing the excitement of a long-awaited finals campaign.Bright Homes Arena in Springfield is being considered as one option for an alternative venue. (Supplied: Brisbane Lions)"I took [my son] Henry to swimming the other day and all the staff were getting behind us," Shaw said."It is exciting for our footy club … It's been a bit of a tough year all round, but for our girls to pick up the slack a little bit and get going and make finals is really, really cool.""We've got a big job against the Giants and then we'll think of finals after that."If the Suns were to fall to GWS on Sunday, there is the potential for them finish as low as seventh on the ladder.However, a fifth or sixth place finish would mean they would earn a home final next weekend and the ABC can confirm Carrara Stadium would be available in this instance.Rhyce Shaw, Senior Coach of the Suns, says it's been a "tough year" for the club. (Getty Images: Maya Thompson)ABC Sport AFLW expert Chyloe Kurdas said regardless of the ladder outcome, the lack of venue certainty is an unwanted distraction."I think it is such a valuable home ground advantage [finishing in the top four] but it's also not just that, it's the distraction of this conversation right now that happens in the lead up to," she said."It occupies bandwidth and it occupies energy from the playing group and the coaching group and the staff."Kurdas said not being able to play at Carrara, a venue the side has won their last three games at, would be a missed opportunity."I think there's a real sweet spot right now with the number of talented kids that are Gold Coast born and raised … that are now playing at the Suns," Kurdas said."Fan engagement is going to be such an important part of this Gold Coast Suns women's team journey … they're so talented."The Suns have had a 75 per cent increase in AFLW memberships for this season.A familiar problemThe Suns aren't the only club caught in a scheduling squeeze.Second-placed Geelong, one win away from securing a top-two finish, also faces a venue clash, with Kardinia Park unavailable next weekend due to the AUSX Supercross Championship.While, the AFLW Grand Final, should it be played in Melbourne, has already been locked in for Princes Park — with a capacity of 13 thousand that has sold out for the showpiece game within hours in recent seasons.Docklands Stadium, with a 53,343-capacity is unavailable, with Harry Styles booked across the weekend, despite players calling for a bigger venue.The Geelong Cats are facing a similar venue problem. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)The Grand Final has also been scheduled for Friday night, November 27, to avoid a clash with the Victorian State Election.It's a familiar problem that's haunted the competition since it started in 2017.In the inaugural season, the Brisbane Lions earned the right to host the Grand Final but were forced to play at Carrara, with the Gabba unavailable due to cricket.Now in its 11th season, the debate continues about where the AFLW competition belongs in the sporting calendar.The AFL is reportedly considering an earlier start to align the women's season with the end of the men's competition."You do your due diligence and you look at where is there likely to be these kind of clashes," Chyloe Kurdas said."But ultimately, whenever you choose to play it, you then have to live and die by those decisions."She says clubs and the AFL must also be prepared to make commercial decisions that put their women's programs first."You can't just buy in when it suits you."The AFL and Stadiums Queensland were contacted for comment.