Cricket Australia has access to all leading venues during AFL finals but turf war unlikely to occur

Cricket Australia has booked every major venue during this year’s AFL finals. Will your club have access to its home ground in October? Find out which clubs are affected.

The AFL is likely to avoid a ground standoff with Cricket Australia. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL is likely to avoid a late-season turf war across the country as Cricket Australia looks to delay its start to the 2020-21 summer.

Last week’s release of CA’s summer fixture included T20s against India at the Gabba on October 11 and at Adelaide Oval on October 17, and against West Indies at Metricon Stadium on October 9.

The AFL Grand Final is expected to be played on October 24.

But AFL club bosses believe that CA chairman Earl Eddings’ written request to the ICC to postpone the T20 World Cup by 12 months means those warm-up series, and the showpiece tournament, are no chance to go ahead in October-November.

The ICC will this month officially pull the pin on this year’s T20 World Cup.

That shapes as a big relief for premiership contenders Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide, who will be free to host home finals, and for the SANFL, which has booked October 17-18 for its Grand Final.

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The AFL is likely to avoid a ground standoff with Cricket Australia. Picture: Getty Images

The T20 Cricket World Cup is due to be cancelled. Picture: Getty

The only clubs in danger of playing home finals away from home are West Coast and Fremantle, and that is in the event WA premier Mark McGowan keeps the border locked.

Australia’s women’s team expects its ODI series against New Zealand to go ahead, which includes a match at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium on October 10.

But the embattled Suns are rated a $19 chance of finishing in the top eight and would have to qualify in the top six to host a final.

In the unlikely event that occurred, the goodwill between the AFL and CA would see the ODI shifted to Cairns or Townsville, or the Suns play at the Gabba.

Perth Stadium boss and former CA powerbroker Mike McKenna explained recently that even with the cricket schedule cleared, the AFL would still need approval to play at major venues beyond September.

West Coast and Fremantle are the only clubs who may play finals away from home.

“Contractually, cricket has access to the venue from the beginning of October. Even if they’re not playing, we still have to get their permission to stage other events,” McKenna said.

For example, CA will take control of Adelaide Oval on October 8.

But the AFL shouldn’t have a problem retaining access after CA chief executive Kevin Roberts kindly vowed to “work with other sports” during COVID-19.

Bizarrely, the only major venue CA does not have a contract with is the MCG.

That deal expired at the end of last summer and, despite CA last week locking in this year’s Boxing Day Test at the MCG, sources yesterday confirmed a new contract has not been signed.

While a multi-year recommitment is close, the lapse means the MCG is free to work with the AFL on plans for this year’s Grand Final without consulting CA.

If CA gets its wish and the T20 World Cup is delayed by 12 months – instead of two years – then the AFL would be required to finish the 2021 season in its traditional September timeslot, presumably by sacrificing one month of pre-season.

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Originally published as Cricket Australia has access to all leading venues during AFL finals but turf war unlikely to occur