Hosting rights: How AFL prevailed over Cricket Australia’s plans to host Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval | Cricket News

In yet another clash between two sporting federations over hosting games at a venue in Australia, Australian Football League (AFL) surpassed Cricket Australia’s ploy to host the Sheffield Shield final at the Adelaide Oval. With South Australia having qualified for the Shield final scheduled to be played from March 26 to March 30, Cricket Australia has now confirmed the shifting of the match to the Karen Rolton Oval.
“We are disappointed South Australia has been prevented from hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval. The Sheffield Shield final is a significant event for Australia’s national sport, and we believe Adelaide Oval would have been the most appropriate venue,” CA chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement on Friday.
While South Australia are placed currently at the top of the points table with 51 points with one round to go, the team is eying its first Shield title since 1996. With South Australian government legislation rules giving South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) unrestricted access to cricket activities from October 8 to March 14 every year, the legislation also provides the window for South Australian National Football League and AFL stadium hosting rights from March 15 to October 7 at the multi-sport venue. According to the AFL calendar, Port Adelaide play against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on March 22 with another match between Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne to be played at the Adelaide Oval on March 30.
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With CA pushing for the Sheffield Shield final to be played from March 24 to March 28 at Adelaide Oval, there were talks about drop-in pitches to be re-installed at Adelaide Oval for the Shield final before handing over the stadium to AFL. “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. March is a very important month for cricket including the Sheffield Shield and Premier and club cricket finals. We will continue to work collaboratively at all levels to ensure cricket gains and provides appropriate access to shared venues across the country,” Greenberg further stated.
According to Australian media, AFL’s concerns over the cutting of grass on the out-field for the Shield final was one of the reasons for players’ safety during the March 30 AFL match. According to The Advertiser, AFL wanted compensation if a player was injured if the change-over happened. South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas had last week supported the plan to host the Shield final to be played at Adelaide Oval and it would have meant that the Shield final should have been played for the first time at a Test venue in 13 years. Malinauskas also revealed the compensation request from AFL.
“We have received a request, it’s not from cricket, I won’t say what entity it is in footy. What I would say is we are asking for people to act rationally and pragmatically in the interest of fans. The South Australian government has already shown an awful lot of support to both footy clubs locally, particular the Adelaide footy club. I’ve got to say it’s a little bit galling that people are trying to use an opportunity to look after fans as an opportunity to slug the taxpayer and I won’t be having it. Just handing over cash is not something that I’ll be doing. I hope this doesn’t get in the way of it. I’m not naming any names, I’m just saying my government is not going to be giving cash so they get out of the way of something everybody thinks should happen.” Malinauskas told 5AA earlier this week
Earlier, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon had shared that the league would look into the request “Like we do with other sports where we have a scheduling clash, we’re fortunate to play in the best stadiums in Australia across all of our capital cities and we know those stadiums get built and operate because they are multi-sport,” Dillon had told Australian Media last week. Story continues below this ad
South Australia skipper Nathan McSweeney talked about the final venue on Friday. “Adelaide Oval is one of the best grounds in the world in my opinion, but Karen Rolton is an awesome venue as well and we now get a great look at what it’s going to be like next week,” McSweeney told cricket.com.au. .
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