Brisbane Lions to play 2022 AFLW season in Maroochydore
The Brisbane Lions will defend their AFLW premiership title from a new home ground in 2022, with the club announcement they’ll be based at the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex.
It’s the fifth home ground for the team in six seasons of the AFL women’s competition, ahead of the club’s move to its permanent new home at Springfield for the 2023 season.
The move, in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Council, will see the Club base itself in the region boasting the second largest member and fan base in Queensland outside of metro Brisbane.
“When we were considering where to play our games this season, it was really important to us that we found a home ground that caused the least possible disruption to local clubs while also having the capacity to host Finals and that’s exactly what the Maroochydore Sports Complex offers us,” Brisbane Lions Head of Women’s Football Breeanna Brock said.
“The facilities at the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex offer members, fans and players alike the best possible experience, including easy access, sufficient parking, and an AFL standard quality field.”
The Maroochydore facility underwent a $2.7 million upgrade last year that included construction of a new multi-sport field with hybrid turf plus lighting interchange boxes for players, coaches’ boxes and earth mounds for spectator viewing.
6 of our players have come out of the Sunny Coast ☀️ They can’t wait to play AFLW back on their home deck 😍 #Uncaged pic.twitter.com/fLjGHOZxAt
— Brisbane Lions AFLW (@lionsaflw) November 19, 2021
The Lions AFLW team played home games at Hickey Park last year, while games have also previously been played at the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex and the South Pine Sports Complex.
The Brisbane Lions will relocate their headquarters from the Gabba to the under-construction Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield ahead of the 2023 season. The 10,000-capacity main oval will host home games for the AFL team as well as pre-season matches for the AFL side. The new facility has also been identified as a venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Meanwhile, with RSEA Park at Moorabbin currently being resurfaced, the Saints AFLW team is expected to play most of its home games at Trevor Barker Beah Oval in Sandringham, while it’s believed a game may also be played under lights at SkyBus Stadium in Frankston, which last year had broadcast-quality lights installed.
The 2023 AFLW season is scheduled to commence in the new year on January 6, with the 2022 fixture to be released soon.
