Chairman of the Gold Coast Suns Board
Chairman of the Gold Coast Suns Board
Tony Cochrane is the event powerhouse consistently fighting for our beloved Gold Coast Suns from the boardroom to the media. As Chairman of the Gold Coast Suns Board since 2016, Tony continues to bring his wealth of experience in sporting events, concerts, live shows and theatre, one-off major events and whole touring spectaculars over the past 40 years. His colourful character and unrelenting support of the Gold Coast Suns has certainly earned him a well-deserved spot as a champion of the Gold Coast. Here, Tony has answered a few questions about the high and lows, what’s in store and how best to support our team, the Gold Coast Suns.
In what is going to be an unusual year for the entire AFL, what do you think is going to be the biggest challenge for the Gold Coast Suns?
Thank goodness the 2020 season is back but, yes, it will throw up some major challenges, as it is across the board for all sectors. The biggest challenge is not being able to have our wonderful members, corporate partners and fans watching the games live at Metricon Stadium. With no crowds, obviously this creates financial issues but it also removes so much of what is fun about footy. We will miss having people at the games and hope this can change soon.
How can Gold Coasters support the Gold Coast Suns without attending the games at the moment?
We know times are tough – very tough – but we really need our fantastic members and corporate partners to stick with us this season and beyond if they can. We would also love to see those fans that can afford to sign up as a member, to please do so (check out the options here). It’s just so important that we stick tight as a club and get through this together, Clubs are the people, we need each other.
How are the Suns leveraging off the AFL Hub with supporters from interstate?
The Suns lobbied to get those interstate clubs to be based on the Gold Coast because we wanted to help get the 2020 season underway and we knew how good it would be economically for the city and as a tourism promotion. We see this as being a massive opportunity to promote our beautiful part of the world to the rest of the country with seven games being played at Metricon Stadium in four weeks. I am sure the visiting players will love it here too and will help showing us off as a tourist destination to the rest of the country.
Do you think the Gold Coast Suns games create opportunity for tourism to the Gold Coast?
Absolutely. It would cost a fortune to buy the positive media and online coverage that the Gold Coast will receive by hosting four visiting interstate teams and playing seven games in four weeks at Metricon Stadium. It’s a great thing for the Gold Coast. When the announcement was made, it was in the southern States, either the first or second major news bulletin that night with great shots of the resorts and our beaches etc.
What do you think needs to change to get more Gold Coasters on board with the Suns?
Two things need to happen to keep growing our fan base.
One, we need to keep building our relationship with this fantastic city through our extensive community work. I think people now know how much the Suns love the Gold Coast and that we are here to stay.
Two, we need to win more games and have success because Gold Coasters love a winner.
In a predominantly NRL state, do you feel like the Gold Coast Suns have won over Gold Coasters in switching codes?
Yes, without a doubt .. but there is more to be done. The growth in AFL participation in Queensland has been enormous – up 50% in the past five years. Queensland now has the second most women playing of any state or territory and the schools programs are growing fast. The Suns fielded a team in the AFLW this year for the first time and we made finals – I believe having an AFLW team will inspire more interest and growth in our code. The AFL’s investment is working and that investment is here for the long haul.
You’re now into your 5th year at the Gold Coast Suns as Chairman, what have been some of the highs and lows for you at the Club to date?
It has been an enormous challenge to build the Club and I love a challenge! The massive infrastructure we have created working in partnership with all levels of Government at Metricon Stadium is terrific for our great indigenous game. That has absolutely been a highlight. I hate losing – so that is clearly the opposite end of the scale!
In your opinion, what do you think is the single most important thing the Gold Coast Suns has done well since it’s inception?
We have done literally thousands of hours of community work – our players and staff spent more than 6,000 hours in our community in 2019 alone. Community is one of our key values. We have also helped deliver a world-class sports precinct for the Gold Coast.
Let us in on a secret, what future plans can you reveal are in place for the Gold Coast Suns and their supporters?
Off the field, we are working on plans for a childcare centre at our sports precinct and want to keep bringing big concerts like Queen to the Gold Coast.
On field, we have some exciting young men ready to debut this season that our fans will grow to love.
What’s the best community initiative for the Club to date that you’re proud of?
I am really proud of the work we have done to tackle homelessness on the Gold Coast including hosting Homeless Connect at Metricon Stadium and the work Peter Wright and Touk Miller do to support and mentor homeless and vulnerable youth.
What do you think has been the biggest roadblock to get Gold Coasters to games and what do you think will increase attendance at Metricon Stadium games when they return?
If you win games, people will come. We have placed a big focus on keeping AFL players here over the past two years so that we can build a finals levels team. The players have signed up and we now have a strong, united and exciting group to take us to success over the next 3-4 years!
Having recently been named Co-Captain of the Gold Coast SUNS, David Swallow’s 2019 certainly started off on the right foot, and it’s only been uphill from there. The team is currently on a winning streak after acquiring 14 new players and it seems there’s no stopping them now.
We sat down for a chat with Dave about how it felt to be named Co-Captain and his thoughts on the upcoming season.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I moved to the Gold Coast in 2010 from WA to play for the SUNS during their first season in the VFL – so about 9.5 years now.
What do you love most about living here?
It’s a fantastic lifestyle living here on the Coast and a great environment to train and play AFL Football. The people here on the Gold Coast are really friendly and our family loves being part of it.
Tell us how you came to be a professional AFL player?
I played all my junior footy back home in WA, before moving to the Coast to play for the SUNS in 2010 before they joined the AFL competition. I was then drafted to the club, and have loved being part of the team ever since.
You’ve won plenty of prestigious awards but this season you were named Co-Captain, what does that mean to you?
It’s humbling to be voted by your peers as captain of the Club, it’s a great honour to be able to lead the team and I’m really excited about the future of the Gold Coast SUNS and hopefully I can play a small role in helping to drive the club forward.
The Gold Coast SUNS are on a winning streak at the moment, what do you attribute to such a good start to the season?
It’s been a good start to the year, but we know it’s a long season and there is plenty of football ahead. Over the off-season we had significant change at the club with 14 new players and 13 new staff arriving. Everyone has really bought into what we’re trying to achieve which is the first step, and then we’ve done a mountain of work during the pre-season to set ourselves up the best we possibly can.
How are you and the team feeling about the 2019 season?
Like I said, it’s exciting to have started the way we have, but it’s a long season. We just need to make sure as a group we continue to bring the same effort and intensity each week.
Any tricks up your sleeve?
Haha no unfortunately I don’t have many tricks up my sleeve.
How do you feel about local Gold Coasts’ support of AFL?
It’s fantastic; the Gold Coast AFL community is one that has grown so much since I’ve moved here. We always get great crowds to home games, the crowd at our first home game of the season was one of the loudest I’ve heard which is exciting for the boys. We haven’t had that much success over the years, but hopefully as we continue to keep growing as a team, even more people will fall in love with our game.
If you weren’t a professional sportsman, what would you be doing?
I’m not sure at all. I always wanted to play AFL Footy and that’s what I’ve been focused on, but I reckon a musician would be a dream job.
Any advice for aspiring players?
Have fun and work hard.
Tell us your favourites on the Coast…
Café for breakfast: Can’t go past Nude Sisters Café in Mermaid Waters.
Spot to grab a coffee: Again, would have to be Nude Sisters Café. If you haven’t tried it, you should!
Restaurant: Hellenika in Nobby’s – Best Greek food
How does a weekend in the off-season look like for you: Usually spend time with my partner Georgia and my son Charlie down at the beach. Pretty relaxed!
Picture the scene: it’s your team’s game night, and you and your crew are more than keen to catch the action in a location with full coverage, the coldest of beers, and a sprinkling of outstanding food options. Anything less would be a colossal failure, right? Seeking down such establishments that are solely devoted to delivering these things is not always the most straightforward task. But at the same time, neither is it impossible! Luckily for you, we’ve done our homework and compiled a list of the best sports bars on the Gold Coast to enjoy the action while adequately showing your support for your team. Shouting at screens may or may not be included.
The Star Sports Bar
Many would say this place is in pole position as the Gold Coast’s premier sports bar venue, and we think that’s rightly deserved. If the 23 large screens, private (pre-bookable) booths and a gigantic 10.5-metre screen aren’t impressive enough, you should be swayed by the coldest beer around and a multitude of nearby food outlets for you to fuel up pre-game or celebrate your team’s victory.
Where: The Star Gold Coast, Main Gaming Floor, 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach
Crafty’s Sports Bar
Aptly positioned at the northern Gold Coast’s prime shopping outlet Harbour Town, Crafty’s gives you the option of mixing shopping with seeing whatever sporting event you might be into. Or, if it’s better suited, the chance for you or your partner to do so whilst the other takes their time with over 200 stores. Make plans to grab some essentials and then settle in with some fantastic food and craft beers. Score!
Where: Harbour Town Eats – 147/189 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters
The Sporting Globe Bar and Grill
Part of a sizeable chain of sporting bars across the country, these guys certainly know how to look after sporting fans. Apart from expansive coverage of all the action, there are food specials every day of the week, and if you’re seeing the Gold Coast Titans game at the Cbus Stadium, come in beforehand for a drink, and these guys will even take you there and back. How good is that?
Where: Robina Town Centre, 19 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
Burleigh Town Hotel
This one is a real showstopper, boasting a zhuzhed up modern bistro and the sports bar to end all sports bars. The newly renovated Burleigh Town Hotel is the ideal destination to catch all of the sports action. Featuring a state-of-the-art 11-metre mega screen… It’s the biggest pub screen in the southern hemisphere and if you think that’s impressive, have a go of the suspended cylinder screen promising perfect viewing from every vantage point #jawdrop.
Where: Tsipura Drive, Burleigh Heads
The Avenue
This hotspot is more renowned as the place you head to take the night up a gear with vibrant music, entertainment, and drinks specials. And that’s a fair comment. However, should you want a great place to catch the next big fight with eating options and the ever so easy decision of sticking around and partying till the small hours, it’s a slam dunk!
Where: 3-15 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Coolangatta Hotel
On the southern end of the Coast, The Coolangatta Hotel is the prime location to catch any sporting activities and be assured of a buoyant and passionate atmosphere. Pair it with a splash and lounge on one of Coolangatta’s famous golden beaches, and then be sure to stick around for the post-game live music, and you are onto a hole in one.
Where: Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Fat Freddy’s
How does an American-style sports bar with a Gold Coast twist sound? Too good to be true, right? Wrong. Because you need to look no further than Fat Freddy’s on Broadbeach’s Surf Parade. Grab a highchair at the bar and enjoy unhampered views of seven screens overhead as bartenders look after you with libations galore and a polished bar snacks menu which should make getting up to leave your seat an arduous feat if you ask us!
Where: 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Ashmore Tavern
If you’ve driven past the good ‘ole Ashmore Tavern recently, you’ll have noticed it’s looking anything but ‘ole these days. Undergoing an extreme makeover, we’re not just talking a lick of paint and a few trusty Kmart prints, but an epic $5 million reno sporting some serious a la mode flex. There are sleek new indoor and outdoor dining spaces and a large sports bar with an adjoining balcony. With big screens showing sports daily you’ll never miss a moment of the biggest sporting events at the Sports Bar.
Where: 161 Cotlew Street, Ashmore
Words by Alex Mitcheson & Belinda Symons.
