GOLD Coast is hoping it can grab an advantage by the West Australian and South Australian clubs having to relocate to Queensland to restart the season.
AFL.com.au revealed on Thursday that West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide will enter hub life at two of the Gold Coast's premier golf resorts after border restrictions ended their hopes of playing matches in their home states.
The Suns spent the first half of the season on the road in 2018 as a result of the Commonwealth Games being staged at Metricon Stadium, but are set to be beneficiaries of the reworked COVID-19 football fixture.
Defender Rory Thompson said it would be a "boost" for last year's wooden-spooners to be able to play a block of games at home upon the season's resumption, which is slated for June 11.
"It's going to be a great chance to focus in and play some games at home. We do a lot of travel being a Queensland club, so it will be good to get a taste of what a lot of the Victorian clubs get every year," he said on Friday.
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The 29-year-old, who has not played since 2018 after missing last year after a knee reconstruction, said he felt for the four clubs for having to leave their home states indefinitely but was hoping the Suns can take hold of their chance.
"It's obviously good for us and good for sport on the Gold Coast having those big teams come and stay up here," he said.
"It's a great place if they have to do the hubs – the Gold Coast is going to have great weather, great facilities, so it's going to be a good boost for us having all those teams close by.
"I do feel a little bit sorry for them having to move away from home, but it's a good spot for them to come."
Thompson missed the Suns' opening-round loss to Port Adelaide as he continued his recovery from the knee setback, but the key defender will be out there for their next game.
"My body's feeling really good, I should be ready to go for round two," he said.
"Obviously I didn't get out there for round one but this break has helped me spend a bit more time getting my body right. I've been in full training for quite a few weeks now so I'll be ready to go for the first game back."
