The Melbourne Demons are considering becoming the second AFL club to use Wollongong as a base, while in the NSW hub created by the Covid-19 crisis in Victoria.
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The Gold Coast Suns have been playfully renamed South Coast, while they train at North Dalton Park and use the University of Wollongong facilities this week and next.
And after positive reviews from the Suns since settling into temporary life in the Illawarra, Demons officials toured the area on Thursday, with a view to setting up camp.
The Suns will meet the Demons in a crucial clash for both clubs at Giants Stadium on Saturday night.
Gold Coast are currently 3-2 and sixth on the AFL ladder after losing to the Cats in Geelong last weekend, while Melbourne need a win to keep their finals torch burning.
The Demons are 1-3, but had a game postponed against Essendon after a Covid-19 scare involving Bombers defender Connor McKenna, who tested positive.
The Suns, who will then meet Sydney at the SCG in round seven on Saturday week, are then likely to return to Queensland, once the AFL finalises the following rounds of the draw.
The Demons - currently based at Manly and trained at Blacktown International Sports Park on Wednesday - play Hawthorn at Giants Stadium next week.
However, there remains a number of scenarios still on the table for the AFL to consider, including the possibility of the Gold Coast staying in Wollongong for longer, or even the Demons coming later in the season, amid the Covid-19 pandemic threat.
The Mercury understands the Brisbane Lions had also shown preliminary interest in a move to Wollongong.
Six teams, also including Richmond, Brisbane and Geelong are in the NSW hub, with other clubs based in south-east Queensland and Perth, after the AFL rushed to have teams move out of Victoria before the state borders were closed.