The Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, has strongly reacted to a “frustrating” demand from the Adelaide Crows for financial reparations concerning the Sheffield Shield final that is set to take place at Adelaide Oval just days before their third-round AFL match.
The South Australian government, in conjunction with Cricket Australia and the AFL, is currently organising the Shield final at the Adelaide Oval, which is scheduled to fall between Port Adelaide’s round-one clash against Richmond on Saturday, March 22, and Adelaide’s round-three encounter with North Melbourne on the following Sunday.
It has been suggested that the Shield final will commence on Monday, March 24, and wrap up by Friday, March 28.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. 9News
“The AFL is not keen on altering their schedules for cricket,” reported Nine’s chief AFL journalist on Footy Classified on Tuesday.
Drop-in pitches have already been removed from the Adelaide Oval in preparation for the Crows’ season opener on Sunday, March 16.
Nevertheless, curators and ground staff are confident that three pitches can be installed for the cricket final and then quickly removed, causing minimal disruption to the playing surface.
Malinauskas is keen to ensure the Shield final takes place at the Adelaide Oval, particularly as South Australia last claimed victory in 1996.
Having finished at the top of the ladder, South Australia now holds the rights to host the event.
On Wednesday, Malinauskas disclosed that the Crows had made a “request” for financial support before expressing his hope that this financial pursuit would not hinder the government’s plans.
Crows fans celebrating a goal during a match at Adelaide Oval last season. Getty
Malinauskas confirmed, “We have received a request, but it isn’t coming from cricket [and] I’m not revealing which football entity it pertains to,” before clarifying that the petition originated from the Crows.
“What I would like to emphasise is the importance of individuals acting sensibly and pragmatically for the sake of the fans,” he stated.
“The South Australian government has already extended substantial support to both local football clubs, especially the Adelaide Football Club.
“It’s somewhat disappointing that some are attempting to leverage an opportunity meant to benefit fans into a means of extracting funds from taxpayers, and I will not tolerate that.
“Offering cash simply isn’t on the table for me. My hope is that this doesn’t become an obstacle.”
“I’m not naming names, however, my government will not be issuing cash handouts to facilitate any party’s agenda when it’s widely believed that this should proceed.”
Darcy Fogarty of the Crows leaves the field following their defeat in the round six AFL match against Essendon at the Adelaide Oval. Getty
From the Crows’ standpoint, the primary concern is the wellbeing of their players.
To facilitate the cricket, which requires a shorter grass length, the outfield would be trimmed to 15 millimetres, with hopes it can regrow to the standard 20mm for the Crows’ subsequent game.
This week, South Australian coach Ryan Harris mentioned that momentum was building for the event, and AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has indicated the league is open to considering the proposal, as long as it aligns with fixture requirements.
“Similar to how we manage scheduling conflicts with other sports, we’re lucky to play in Australia’s premier stadiums across capital cities, and we’re aware that these venues operate successfully because they accommodate multiple sports,” Dillon noted.
“If it can fit into our calendar, we certainly will review it.”
The next opponent for South Australia will be determined this weekend during the final round of Sheffield Shield matches.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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