AFL rejects call for Shield final at Adelaide Oval
The AFL has rejected requests from cricket hierarchy and South Australia’s government to allow Adelaide Oval to host the Sheffield Shield final.
SA will instead host the 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 and Premier Peter Malinauskas wanted the shield final at Adelaide Oval from March 24-28.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But with AFL matches scheduled on March 22 and March 30, the AFL cited health and safety concerns in rejecting cricket.
“We are disappointed South Australia has been prevented from hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval,” Cricket Australia chief executive officer Tony Greenberg said in a statement on Friday.
“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.
“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.
“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 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.
