Adelaide Oval on standby if new COVID-19 wave in Queensland impacts Gabba Grand Final, and in line to host prelim finals
Adelaide Oval could host two AFL preliminary finals, and is the backup for the Grand Final if the Gabba’s ability to host the showpiece match is impacted by any breakout of COVID-19 in Queensland.
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Adelaide could host both preliminary finals, after the AFL gave the Oval the green light to host multiple finals games including those without Port Adelaide.
And Adelaide Oval was named the backup location to host the Grand Final as the AFL’s contingency plan to the Gabba hosting the showpiece event.
After Queensland came to the rescue and saved the 2020 season the Gabba was confirmed as the location for the Grand Final this year.
It will be played at night on October 24, the same day as the Cox Plate is set to be run in Victoria, with 30,000 fans set to attend.
AFL boss Gill McLachlan said SA presented the second best submission for the Grand Final and would be on standby if the Gabba’s ability to host the showpiece match was impacted by any breakout of COVID-19 in Queensland.
“We have the ability to reduce numbers (at the Gabba), or if needed move the Grand Final to Adelaide Oval,” he said.
“It (moving the grand final to Adelaide) is not something we’re contemplating – but it’s prudent for us to have a backup plan.”
SA football legend Graham Cornes said the state never really gave itself a shot of being the first option for the Grand Final, after not coming to the party when the AFL was looking for assistance in keeping the season alive.
“I completely understand that we needed to keep the state safe but if you look at Queensland they have done it without any fuss,” he said.
“It was a lost opportunity for SA.
“We’ve got to be grateful that we our borders have been kept safe but Queensland have showed that it could be done.”
Despite this Adelaide Oval could host two preliminary finals with the AFL saying that teams could chose to play in SA for those games with Perth set to be ruled out of contention because of WA border requirements.
SA Premier Steven Marshall said he hoped there would be at least one preliminary final game at Adelaide Oval.
“We are continuing respectful discussions with them regarding the rest of the finals in South Australia,” he said.
”We want to get as much as possible.
“We are still in negotiations, obviously we expect Port Adelaide to have their home finals which they are due. We are also keen to bring other teams’ home finals to the Adelaide Oval.”
Property Council SA executive director Daniel Gannon said Adelaide was the right choice as back-up.
“While this is disappointing given South Australia’s rich football history and our iconic world-class stadium, we should be ready to pick up the slack in the event Queensland proves unsuitable between now and Grand Final day,” he said.
“We know Adelaide Oval isn’t the second-best venue after the MCG – it’s Australia’s greatest stadium in the nation’s safest state, so let’s keep doing what we’ve been doing since this pandemic shocked the country.”
Originally published as Adelaide Oval on standby if new COVID-19 wave in Queensland impacts Gabba Grand Final, and in line to host prelim finals