Crows respond to Adelaide Oval Sheffield Shield saga

The Sheffield Shield final saga continues to drag on, and Crows CEO Tim Silvers has weighed in on what he would like to see happen as Peter Malinauskas waits for an AFL decision.

The Crows want to see the Sheffield Shield final played at Adelaide Oval in an ideal world but have stressed that it cannot come at the expense of player safety or financial impost on the club.

AFL officials are expected to decide by Friday night whether South Australia can host the cricket decider at the city ground in between two rounds of footy.

Adelaide would play North Melbourne after the ground was transformed from a football surface to cricket then back again via a drop-in wicket and reducing grass length.

Crows chief executive Tim Silvers told this masthead a Shield final at Adelaide Oval would be great for South Australian sport lovers.

But Silvers said the club had a duty of care and player safety was of paramount importance.

“In the perfect world, we would all like to see the Shield final played at Adelaide Oval,” Silvers said.

Adelaide CEO Tim Silvers. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“I think all the stakeholders involved have been open-minded and are actively exploring every avenue to try and make it happen.

“However, it can’t come at the expense of the health and safety of our players.

“Nor should our club be exposed financially, if for some reason our game of footy can’t go ahead, or there’s unforeseen issues.

“While understanding of the broader issues, we have a duty of care and must stand our ground for what’s in the best interests of our club and people, and that obviously includes everyone from our players right through to our members and fans.”

Silvers also strongly denied radio and TV speculation that the Crows wanted the entire year’s fees relating to the Footy Express bus waived as part of the negotiations.

“I can categorically say we had no role in that,” Silvers said.

MORE TO COME

SHIELD FINAL IN AFL’S HANDS AS MALI PUSHES BACK ON LEAGUE

The ball is firmly in the AFL’s court as to whether the Sheffield Shield final will be played at Adelaide Oval.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is expecting an answer from the league by the end of Friday as the AFL weighs up the risks of squeezing a cricket match in between two rounds of footy.

Adelaide Oval ground staff are meeting with the AFL’s independent turf experts over the next two days to share data about if the playing arena could be prepared to standard and on time.

Malinauskas, whose government supported having the game played at Adelaide Oval, said he had spoken to AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon about the matter for a third occasion on Thursday morning.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon. Picture: Dean Martin

“This is going to come down to whether or not the Stadium Management Authority can satisfy the AFL that the transfer of the one wicket in and out can be done in a way that doesn’t compromise the quality of the pitch and the ground for AFL on Sunday,” Malinauskas said.

“It’s in the AFL’s court.

“They don’t have to do this, they’re under no obligation to, but my view is if it can be done to the appropriate standard it should happen because it’s not about the AFL, it’s not about the cricket, it’s about the fans.

“Sheffield Shield finals don’t come around in South Australia very often.”

Malinauskas said he appreciated the oval’s preparation had to be done safely but while the AFL, clubs and cricket would act in their own interests, he was pushing for this for fans.

Jake Lehmann and Ben Manenti after South Australia’s Sheffield Shield win over Victoria last week. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The AFL will not get the entire year’s fees relating to the Footy Express waived in exchange for the shield final being played at Adelaide Oval, but the SA government is open to assisting in the indemnification of risk.

“We’re not just going to hand out cash,” Malinauskas said.

“We’re creating a problem for the AFL, they’ve been very good to deal with.

“I hope we get the right outcome.”

Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox believed the ground transformation process would be extremely complicated and one that would be nearly impossible for the MCG.

“I will be fascinated if they can pull it off,” Fox told SEN.

“Once you’re in football season, you’re committed to football season.

“Turf lengths, compaction of the soil, how you set up, you really do fit your stadium for purpose.”

Under the plans, ground staff would drop in a cricket wicket and reduce grass length on Sunday, March 23 – the day after Port Adelaide hosts Richmond in round 2 – then the shield final would be played from Monday to Friday (March 24-29).

The oval would be transformed back to a football ground for Adelaide’s match against North Melbourne on Sunday, March 30.

South Australia, which is seeking to end a 29-year Sheffield Shield drought, last hosted a final in 2015/16 at Glenelg due to the start of the AFL season.

The AFL has been contacted for comment.