Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide say they will investigate a potential T20 Showdown cricket match for bushfire relief
Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide stars could be going into battle at Adelaide Oval in a different sport after both clubs said they would look at holding a T20 Showdown cricket match for the bushfire appeal
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A Twenty20 Showdown cricket match between the Crows and Power to raise funds for the bushfire appeal is inching closer to reality, after both clubs said they would investigate the logistics of the potential fundraiser.
And the hopes of getting Adelaide Oval to host the match have received a big boost after the Stadium Management Authority indicated it too, wanted to help.
After former captains of the clubs Travis Boak and Taylor Walker joined a chorus of people keen to see the Crows take on the Power in a T20 match, the two clubs put out statements saying they would work together to come up with an appropriate and meaningful way to support those affected by the raging bushfires.
“Both clubs are aware of the proposed concept of a Twenty20 cricket match as a potential fundraiser and will continue to explore this opportunity, as well as others, with relevant stakeholders,” the Crows statement said.
Port Adelaide’s statement said it would look at the logistics of such a fundraiser.
“Port Adelaide will be in a position to make a further announcement in the coming days, whilst also conscious of participating in an industry-wide co-ordinated approach to fundraising,” it said.
The idea for the T20 Showdown came via one Twitter user named Scott who suggested the two clubs could play a charity match at Adelaide Oval to raise money to aid the bushfire relief effort.
SA media personality Mark Soderstrom has since got the ball running as to bringing it to life, getting onto the two AFL clubs and the Adelaide Strikers through SACA.
Soderstrom, who along with Crows AFLW star Erin Phillips will cut short his holiday and return to Mix 102.3 radio to further gather support for the concept, told the Sunday Mail it was gathering “enormous momentum”.
“I’ve had a chat with a few different organisations, people have come on board pretty quickly,” he said.
“One thing we’ve noticed with everything that we’ve done with the community is that people get right behind these sort of things.
“It was a great idea by a guy called Scott... I saw that and thought that’s a fantastic idea, I know Adelaide will turn up and you will get 50,000 people there (at Adelaide Oval).”
A SMA spokeswoman indicated the organisation would be keen to help.
“Adelaide Oval is ready to work with cricket and football to come up with the most effective way to provide assistance to those who have been impacted by the bushfire crisis. Our thoughts are with all those affected during this difficult time,” she said.
The Oval will also be lighting up in red and yellow for the next few nights to show its support for those who have been impacted and are fighting the fires.
Soderstrom said he was confident it could be organised.
“I think it would be a wonderful way to help people who have struggled through all of this and to show some recognition for the selfless and amazing work that the fireys have done and everybody fighting these fires have been doing,” he said.
“I’m confident in the community, anything we have done in the past the Adelaide and South Australian community are fantastic in supporting each other so I’m confident we can organise something pretty soon.”
SACA said it and the Adelaide Strikers were in discussions with a number of stakeholders about how it can best provide support.