Infotainment Factory: How the Suns could claim Darwin before the AFL

Eddie McGuire says while the AFL weighs up whether they introduce Darwin as the 20th team, the Gold Coast Suns should make the Northern Territory their home.

As the league gears up to welcome the Tasmania Devils as the 19th club in 2028, McGuire believes it's the perfect time for the Suns to build a new fan base up north, before a likely 20th side is brought in.

"Gold Coast should go into the Darwin area," he said on Nine's Eddie and Jimmy podcast.

McGuire believes that it will not only increase the Suns' prowess in the league, but will also help build excitement for the introduction of Darwin's own team in the future.

"Give those teams an identity up there and give the kids up there a regular team to barrack for. That would be the first way to go," he said.

The former Collingwood president is also urging struggling Victorian teams to take up the opportunity to play up north to grow their fans bases.

"Get North [Melbourne] to play an away game up there, other teams, St Kilda ... play a couple of games up there against the Gold Coast," McGuire said.

The Suns have won their last five matches up in Darwin, most recently overcoming North Melbourne by 68 points in round nine.

But Jimmy Bartel fears that building a home in Darwin could work in the Suns favour, meaning that other AFL sides will want a piece of the Northern Territory, or call it a bias.

"We all agree with the sentiment. Some great players come from up in the NT," he said.

"The only issue with your proposal of keeping a club in that state or area is, it will be okay until they win (the premiership) and everyone sooks.

"You're allowed to do things, but you're not allowed to do them well. You imagine if Gold Coast peeled off a 16-win season, (people would say) 'oh they only get home games'."

The Suns are sitting in 10th, with a 5-4 record.