The AFL’s move to have VFL curtain-raisers at the MCG next season will be looked at by the SANFL for 2020 season

SANFL matches could be played before AFL games at Adelaide Oval in 2020 after the AFL agreed to hold four VFL games as curtain-raisers at the MCG next year.

THE idea of having SANFL curtain raisers at Adelaide Oval ahead of AFL matches will be revisited ahead of the 2020 season after the VFL yesterday announced the MCG would introduce the concept in 2019.

The Victorians will have the good old times back, when you could watch the reserves ahead of the senior game, and it is being looked at here — just not for next year.

The main hurdles are Port Adelaide’s tradition of having home games at Alberton, the fact that the Crows only have one “home” game for the year and take that to the country, and the costs associated with staging an SANFL game at the venue.

But SANFL football manager Adam Kelly said the league hadn’t closed the door on the idea.

“SANFL is committed to constant review of the match program and how this supports and maximises fan engagement,” Kelly said. “To that end we are open to thinking about all possibilities.”

Sturt general manager Sue Dewing was open to the idea, saying it could help introduce and showcase the local league to a new audience.

Crows coach Don Pyke was also behind the concept.

“If I took a pure footy viewpoint, if I was a young guy playing in the SANFL I would love the opportunity to play on Adelaide Oval before a Port or Adelaide game, just simply because of the difference in environment,” Pyke said. “You are playing in front of 3000-4000 people versus potentially 30,000-40,000.

“That’s got to be a real incentive and fillip I would have thought for a young guy who is working his way through SANFL level.

“To get that buzz to play in front of that crowd would be great. But there are other logistical issues (getting access to the ground) to deal with.”

An in-principle agreement this week stipulated that there would be four VFL matches ahead of AFL game at the MCG.

There will also be VFL curtain-raisers at the Docklands.

One of the key issues that was solved was the time between the games, with the parties agreeing to reduce the required time of one hour ahead of AFL games to around 35 minutes, meaning the crowds would not have too much dead time.

It is understood official broadcaster Channel 7 also pushed for the move in a cost-cutting move to cover the two games.