THE SUNSHINE Coast will once again welcome some of the AFL’s biggest names as three clubs hit the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex for their pre-season summer camps, bringing elite training and community engagement to local fans.

St Kilda, Brisbane Lion and the Western Bulldogs will be using the venue as a base.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said having elite sports teams choose the Sunshine Coast as a training location demonstrated the breadth of facilities available in the region.

“When dual Premiership-winning teams like the Brisbane Lions choose to come and train on the Sunshine Coast, it tells you that our spaces, our environment, our weather and our people are an attractive mix.”

Bring your family, grab your club colours 
The St Kilda Football Club will be up in the new year and will host a training session on Wednesday, January 21, running from 10 am to 12.30 pm. This will be a great opportunity for Saints supporters to see their heroes up close and enjoy the summer atmosphere.

The Brisbane Lions return on Friday, January 30, training from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. The Lions will also host community activations on other fields until 1 pm, giving fans even more chances to connect with the club and their premiership-winning players.

Lions GM of Football, Danny Daly, said the team was looking forward to getting back to the Sunshine Coast for the third year in a row.

“The elite facilities, weather and beaches all add up to making it a great few days. The players really enjoy getting amongst the community and visiting local footy clubs,” Mr Daly said.

The Western Bulldogs will round out the trio and head to the Sunshine Coast for their training camp from January 30 to February 5, 2026.

These sessions are free to attend and offer a unique chance for locals and visitors to experience AFL action on the Sunshine Coast.