PORT Adelaide and Gold Coast will renew hostilities in Shanghai next year, with the clubs confirming they will play in the bustling Chinese city in round nine, 2018.
The two teams will face off on the afternoon of Saturday, May 19, at the re-christened Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium as part of an agreement with the South Australian Government.
It will be the second straight year the AFL plays a premiership game in China after the Power defeated the Suns by 72 points in front of a crowd of 10,118 people in round eight.
"The AFL and both clubs received great support in taking a match to China in 2017 and we're committed to growing the sporting relationship with Australia's biggest trading nation," AFL general manager of clubs Travis Auld said.
"This year's game in May attracted more than 10,000 supporters and millions of people watched the game on television, both in this country, internationally and it was a great spectacle for our game.
"Our game exists in a growing sporting marketplace and this match continues to support our broader strategy to reach into new markets, both inside Australia and across our region.
"It's an exciting game for our game and these two football clubs."
AFL.com.au understands the Power and the Suns will play games in their home states in round eight before flying to China.
For the Suns, that could mean a game at the Gabba or in Townsville with their regular home venue, Metricon Stadium, unavailable until later in the year due to the Commonwealth Games.
Power chief executive Keith Thomas was delighted the game was given the green light as the club builds its relationship with China.
"Like any new venture, you need to nurture it, you need to feed it and love it so it can continue to grow," Thomas said.
"We are determined to do that in 2018.
"One of our key responsibilities is to ensure the Shanghai experience is a benchmark that other AFL clubs can look at and be inspired to follow us to China.
"We think the future of the game is growing the game in China.
"It's not a Port Adelaide project, it's an AFL project."
The Suns previously had their reservations about this year's China game, leading to speculation the club could be replaced as the Power's opponent.
But chief executive Mark Evans said the Suns were on board with the opportunities the game in China could provide.
"When you're part of large venture like this, taking an AFL match to China, all of the effort and work that it takes, you have to remind yourself that the event is incredibly special and historic," Evans said.
"In football terms, we have a new coach, we have new plans, we have new players and a renewed spirit that looks forward to taking this game head on.
"As a club, we greatly look forward to making the 2018 match a great success with Port Adelaide for the AFL, for both clubs and for all of our partners."
