AFL rejects Adelaide Oval Shield final
The Sheffield Shield final won’t be played at Adelaide Oval despite appeals from cricket and the South Australian government.
South Australia will host the Sheffield Shield final at Karen Rolton Oval after the AFL refused to allow the decider to be wedged between AFL games at Adelaide Oval.
The SA Cricket Association (SACA) and Premier Peter Malinauskas previously expressed support for the final to be held at Adelaide Oval from March 24-28.
But with AFL matches scheduled on March 22 and March 30, the AFL cited health and safety concerns in rejecting cricket.
A spokesperson told InDaily while disappointed in the decision, the state government is grateful the AFL considered the proposal.
“We are disappointed in the decision given it was the view of Adelaide Oval and its world renowned head curator in Damien Hough, that it was feasible to host the Sheffield Shield final without compromising the standards required for all AFL fixtures,” the spokesperson said.
“Nonetheless, the state government does appreciate the strong partnership it has with the AFL.
“Equally, we look forward to working closely with SACA to see a great turnout to the final at Karen Rolton Oval.”
Cricket Australia chief executive officer Tony Greenberg said Adelaide Oval would have been the most appropriate venue.
“I would like to thank Premier Malinauskas for his advocacy in this matter and his passionate support of cricket and the South Australia Cricket Association which made an extremely compelling case to host the final at Adelaide Oval,” Greenberg said in a statement on Friday.
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“We will continue to work collaboratively at all levels to ensure cricket gains and provides appropriate access to shared venues across the country.”
The AFL’s Andrew Dillon and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas were at odds over the Shield final. Image: Matt Turner/AAP
The AFL and Adelaide Crows raised concerns about Adelaide Oval being able to remove its drop-in cricket pitches and then suitably re-surface the area in time for the Crows’ March 30 game.
The AFL and Crows asked the state government to commit to paying compensation should that March 30 game be moved, which the premier rejected.
The shield final will be played on March 26 to 30 – if the AFL permitted access to Adelaide Oval, the game would have been shifted to start two days earlier.
SA haven’t won the shield since 1995/96 but have secured hosting rights regardless of results in the last round starting on Saturday.
SA have played one shield game at Karen Rolton Oval this summer and will host Queensland at the ground on the city’s western fringe from Saturday.
