Leigh Matthews labels AFLW Grand Final venue confusion ‘embarrassing’ as players vent frustration

UPDATE: Lions CEO Greg Swann says women’s football has been let down by Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell as Leigh Matthews labels the grand final venue ‘an embarrassing stuff-up’. REACTION

UPDATE: LIONS CEO Greg Swann says women’s football has been let down by Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell.

The Lions have been forced to host the inaugural AFLW grand final at Mericon Stadium after Stadiums Queensland banned the use of the Gabba.

The Lions women’s team rejected proposals from the AFL to play the game at the MCG or the Adelaide Oval so they could retain the home state advantage.

The club’s Round 2 clash against Essendon scheduled for the Gabba is also in doubt.

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Swann said it was Mitchell’s decision to re-turf a section of the pitch after the Adele concert that has put a major dampener on what should have been a historical occasion for the club and code.

“We are bitterly disappointed we are not here,’’ he said.

“We are really disappointed that grass was sown knowing there was a football season coming up and it has hindered what is happening here.’’

Comment is being sought from Mitchell and Queensland Cricket.

Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell is concerned about the pitch for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on November 23-27. Picture: Tim Marsden

The confusion over where the inaugural AFLW Grand Final will be played between Brisbane and Adelaide has been labelled “embarrassing” by AFL legend Leigh Matthews.

The Lions earned the right to host the decider in Queensland after finishing on top of the ladder but the game will now be played at Metricon Stadium, not the Gabba despite the players and club declaring their desire to have it played at the club’s home ground.

There were several hours of confusion on Monday as fans received mixed messages about where the game would be played.

Adele at Etihad , OK for footy 1 week later , Adele at Gabba , unsafe for footy 3 weeks later, who is liable for the embarrasing stuff up ?

— Leigh Matthews (@LeighRMatthews) March 20, 2017

The AFL’s preferred venue, the Gabba, was ruled out of contention on Monday after the pitch failed a third inspection on Monday morning.

The surface at the Test cricket venue is seen as unsafe to host the AFLW, three weeks after it was used for an Adele concert.

Matthews savaged the decision.

Brisbane Lions AFLW player Kaitlyn Ashmore out the front of the Gabba. Picture: Darren England

“If there Adele at Etihad, OK for footy 1 (sic) week later, Adele at Gabba, unsafe for footy 3 weeks later, who is liable for the embarrassing stuff up?,” he tweeted.

The delay in confirming the game’s venue has caused chaos, with Brisbane small forward Jessica Wuetschner revealing her family had already booked flights to attend the match.

@WomensFootyAFL @aflwomens friends and family booked flights as son as we " booked the gf" in Brisbane. I hope if it's moved this is fixed.

— Jessica Wuetschner (@JessicaWoochnar) March 20, 2017

@JessicaWoochnar @WomensFootyAFL @aflwomens All our family have booked to Jess what a nightmare!

— Debbie ASHMORE (@debashm) March 20, 2017

Marquee star Tayla Harris, who wanted to play the match at the Gabba, also took to Twitter to vent her frustration.

This grandfinal venue decision delay has me raging like Tyra pic.twitter.com/v42KRRn21r

— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) March 20, 2017

Former Brisbane Lions chairman Graeme Downie said it was disappointing the women’s team was not hosting the grand final at the Gabba but the side was hardly giving up a home ground advantage by playing on the Gold Coast.

He said the AFL would have known how difficult it is to stage any matches at the Gabba before the end of March and should have had a contingency plan in place.

“It would be ideal to play at the Gabba, but I wouldn’t think it would be that important, they haven’t played a game there ... but the game should be played in Brisbane,” Downie said.

“Doing anything with AFL games before the end of March has always been an issue at the Gabba.”

Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium hosted the record-breaking British songstress for shows on the weekend just past and will host AFL matches from Saturday — six days later.

Matthews accused Gabba ground staff of putting the summer tenants ahead of AFL needs at the south Brisbane venue.

“Wouldn’t it be great if the Gabba curator wanted a pristine football ground just as much as a pristine cricket ground,” he tweeted last week.

Matthews wasn’t the only one to voice his disappointment in the shambolic way the decider’s venue has been handled.

I've just been told round 2 Lions v Essendon is no certainty to be played at Gabba. AFL really are second class citizens up here.

— Andrew Hamilton (@AndrewHammo72) March 20, 2017

I assume the men's team will have to find somewhere else to play their first two home games as well? Or is the ground just unfit for women? https://t.co/Te24kQ0jKb

— Amul (@Amul82) March 20, 2017

ridiculous that @aflw Grand Final to be held “out of brisbane”. Be better to hold it at Caboolture or Sth Pine @afl #fail #sunslaughing

— Darryl King (@ireckon) March 20, 2017

AFLW Grand Final as a curtain raiser for AFLM Gold Coast season opener an insult.

— Anna Chang (@annachang) March 20, 2017

Very sad to hear that the Brisbane Lions AFLW team will not get to play the Grand Final at the GABBA. A sad day for equality!

— Dr Matt Capp (@Capitalise_Ed) March 20, 2017

The @AFL continues to invalidate & stymie the success of the inaugural #AFLW season by having the Grand Final as a "curtain raiser."

— Nevena Spirovska (@NevenaSpirovska) March 20, 2017

After the wild success and popularity of AFLW, to play the Grand Final as a curtain raiser to the blokes feels like a step backwards.

— Peter Mattessi (@pmattessi) March 20, 2017