AFL grand final news: Latest on how Adelaide is shaping up as a potential venue for the big game
The South Australian State Government is making a last ditch bid to host the AFL grand final in Adelaide.
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South Australian premier Steven Marshall has held further talks with the AFL as the state makes a late play to host the grand final at Adelaide Oval.
Marshall’s government is also lobbying for more finals to be staged in Adelaide as Victoria’s worsening Covid-19 situation closes down hope of any matches being played at the MCG for a second straight year.
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South Australia has started to sniff an opening as the favourite to host the season’s biggest game, Western Australia, continues to play hard ball on restrictions.
WA premier Mark McGowan continues to flag tough protocols for teams to be allowed into the state to play the Grand Final.
Marshall said SA authorities were continuing discussions with the AFL about as much finals content as possible at Adelaide Oval.
“We are continuing to talk with the AFL,” he said on Thursday.
“I had a conversation with the AFL earlier this morning.
“We are keen for additional finals games and even the grand final itself.”
But Marshall said the AFL needed to make some guarantees to SA authorities.
“Only if it is safe for South Australia, we are working through those issues at the moment,” he said.
“They would obviously love to see the finals and the grand final over at the MCG, they also are needing to work with the Victorian health authorities.”
Marshall said that Adelaide Oval was the “jewel in the crown” of SA’s push.
“We know the players love the Adelaide Oval, we would love to have more finals actions here in South Australia and maybe, maybe the grand final.”
Kochie makes case for Adelaide Oval decider
Port Adelaide president David Koch says Adelaide Oval is “well placed” to host the AFL grand final as the Covid-19 crisis threatens to again rule out the MCG.
The Power president also backed the league’s determination to play finals in front of crowds.
Victorian teams, Melbourne, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs face having to “host” finals games interstate with the league to prioritise fans being allowed at venues.
The Power could earn hosting rights for finals if they beat the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, in what would be a huge boost to Ken Hinkley’s side.
Fans are allowed at Adelaide Oval, up to 15,000, the Gabba can host 50 per cent and Tasmanian grounds could have up to 10,000 fans.
There was a capacity crowd at Optus Stadium for the Derby, but Western Australian quarantine requirements could make it tricky to send teams there in the early weeks of the finals.
Koch told The Advertiser that having crowds at games needed to be the priority.
“We believe that finals should be played in front of supporters,” he said.
“Ultimately it serves us at the moment, but we believed that finals should be played in front of supporters last year, this year and we’ll believe it again in 2022.”
Melbourne president Gary Pert has said the relevant finals, including the grand final, should remain at the MCG.
Koch said after Covid-19 again had a big financial impact on the AFL, the game needed crowds to be at finals game.
“The integrity of finals is important and we know the AFL recognise that, but in the current circumstances we’re all being called upon to do what’s best for the AFL competition as a whole,” he said.
“SA Health and the SA Government have a well established set of protocols with the sterile corridor arrangements which have allowed AFL football to continue at Adelaide Oval this season.
“We are hopeful that will continue and that if the Covid situation in SA remains under control, we have the opportunity to host finals at Adelaide Oval.
“And if we earn the right, home finals at Adelaide Oval would be great reward for our fans and also South Australia generally.”
While quarantine requirements could make earlier finals games in Perth tricky to organise, Optus Stadium is still the red hot favourite to host the grand final.
Koch said Adelaide Oval should also be under strong consideration.
“Adelaide Oval, with a hotel on site should be well placed for any final or the AFL Grand Final,” he said.
Port Adelaide star Karl Amon said while players would play anywhere he would love the grand final to be in Adelaide.
“It would be good to see wouldn’t it,” he said.
Where Adelaide ranks on AFL’s Grand Final wishlist
South Australia is ramping up its bid to host AFL finals at Adelaide Oval as Victoria continues to be plagued by a Covid-19 outbreak.
The state will also make a play for the grand final — a tantalising prospect should Port Adelaide make it to the last game of the year.
But Adelaide Oval is seen as third favourite to stage the season finale behind Perth Stadium and the MCG should Victoria open up and allow crowds back to games.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said plans to host finals were being discussed.
“SA Health are doing some work with the AFL and Adelaide oval in terms of what finals may look like in South Australia,” he said.
SA and Western Australia both made pitches to host the Grand Final last year, but lost out to The Gabba after Queensland hosted a majority of the 18 clubs in hubs.
The chances of this year’s Grand Final again being played away from the MCG became stronger this week when Victoria extended its lock down until September 2.
Perth is seen as the likely venue, despite WA premier Mark McGowan flagging tough restrictions on players for the match to go ahead out west.
McGowan said teams would have to abide by extremely strict restrictions, while no families nor partners would be allowed into WA for the game.
SA premier Steven Marshall said on Monday the potential for any outbreak in both SA and WA over the next five weeks meant Adelaide Oval couldn’t be discounted from hosting the grand final.
Port Adelaide could secure a top two spot and the hosting rights for qualifying final and potentially the preliminary final.
Power chief executive Matthew Richardson said on Tuesday they were hopeful SA Health would allow teams from Melbourne to travel to Adelaide for any potential home final.
“We’d be hopeful that those same secure arrangements can be in place for finals and if we do win the right to have some home finals they will be played at Adelaide Oval,” he said on SEN.
Richardson said he thought Adelaide Oval did have a chance at hosting the grand final.
“I think there is a possibility, again I think it just depends on what is happening around the country with Covid,” he said.
Port coach Ken Hinkley said crowds are a must for finals.
“We’ve said this last year and every other time we’ve been in the finals. We’re happy to be in the finals wherever they need to be,” he said on AFL 360 on Monday night.
“For the good of the game, the crowd is important, particularly for the finals and the showcase. If we have that opportunity we’d be foolish, somewhat selfish, if we didn’t go towards the crowds.”
Playing Vic finals without crowds ‘foolish and selfish’
– Russell Gould
It would be “selfish” for any Victorian club to push for any AFL finals to be played in Melbourne without crowds, according to Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.
As many as five Victorian clubs could qualify for the postseason, including three in the top four with potentially two earning the right to host a final.
The AFL is preparing to move the grand final away from the MCG for the second straight year due to Melbourne’s prolonged Covid-19 crisis, most likely in Perth.
That crisis has prohibited crowds from attending games at both the MCG and Marvel Stadium, a situation that won’t change before the finals begin next weekend after the AFL scrapped the pre-finals bye.
Melbourne’s lockdown has been extended until at least September 2, and there is no chance of even limited crowds at Victorian venues for the first two weeks of the finals series.
Hinkley’s Port Adelaide could finish second with a win over the Western Bulldogs this week.
But even if they don’t, he said crowds being allowed in at the Adelaide Oval, and Perth’s Optus Stadium, where 51,692 fans created a pulsating atmosphere for the Fremantle-West Coast derby last weekend, should win out when it comes to finals.
“We’ve said this last year and every other time we’ve been in the finals. We’re happy to be in the finals wherever they need to be,” Hinkley told AFL 360 on Monday night.
“For the good of the game, the crowd is important, particularly for the finals,
“If we have that opportunity we’d be foolish, somewhat selfish, if we didn’t go towards the crowds.”
Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert suggested last week the club would want to host a qualifying final at their MCG fortress even if spectators were barred from attending.
There would also be strict quarantine rules around AFL players travelling interstate for finals.
On Monday, WA Premier Mark McGowan even declared no families would be allowed to travel should Perth host the Grand Final.
“Our intention is that those sorts of groups wouldn’t be permitted to join players coming in. It’d be a very strict and tight regime,” he said.
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