South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas reveals money demand for Sheffield Shield final to be held at Adelaide Oval

After Peter Malinauskas went public with a demand for compensation for the Sheffield Shield final to be played at Adelaide Oval, two major issues which have stalled talks can be revealed.

Player safety and logistics are at the centre of a “galling” compensation request to the South Australian government as uncertainty remains whether the Sheffield Shield final will be played at the Adelaide Oval.

Talks are continuing over whether the South Australian cricket team can play the final at the traditional home of cricket in late March despite the AFL season up and running.

The AFL is asking for compensation cover if a football player suffers a serious injury after the cricket is played during the Round 3 Adelaide v North Melbourne game at the venue.

The league also wants to be remunerated in case the logistical challenge of transforming the ground back to purpose for football can’t be achieved in time which could see Crows home game either postponed or shifted.

On Wednesday, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state had been asked to foot the bill should either of these scenarios occur.

Malinauskas dropped the revelation on Adelaide radio labelling the request for money from the government from football “a little bit galling”.

“We are asking people to act rationally and pragmatically in the interest of fans,” he said on FIVEaa

“The South Australian government has already shown an awful lot of support to both footy clubs locally, particularly the Adelaide Football Club which has done very well from the support we have provided them to get through the issues at Thebarton (Oval), we have backed them all the way.

“I think it is a little bit galling that people are trying to use an opportunity to look after fans to slug the taxpayer and I won’t be having it.

“There are mitigating risks… but just handing over cash is something that I will not be doing.

“My government is not giving out cash just so they can get out of the way of something everyone thinks should happen.”

There were hopes a decision would be made by Wednesday but the latest developments adds to the uncertainty of where the game will be played.

It is understood the request is not for an outright fee, but instead cover, to allow the Shield final to be played at Adelaide Oval.

South Australia won hosting rights for the Shield final and the South Australian Cricket Association is hoping to hold it at Adelaide Oval in between Port Adelaide’s clash against Richmond next Saturday and then the Crows and Kangaroos the following Sunday.

To do this the Oval would need to be transformed from footy to cricket on the Sunday after the Power game, the Shield final would run from Monday to Friday and then curators would have a day to turn it back to a footy venue before the Crows game.

But while it is understood the Crows remain happy for this to happen, if a solution can be found, there are concerns around the potential exposure faced from the current plan.

The main one is player safety, with the concern around legal liability if a player suffers a serious injury from the Adelaide Oval surface being different to what it has been for 10 years because of the rapid change.

Crows premiership ruckman Shaun Rehn sued the AFL, SANFL and the club in the early 2000s seeking damages for loss of income as a result of an injury sustained in a 1999 pre-season match at Football Park.

The former Crows and Hawthorn ruckman required a knee reconstruction after slipping on an artificial disc, used to help umpires bounce the ball.

On top of that there is also concerns that if the Shield final goes all five days and then it rains on the Saturday the Adelaide Oval ground staff would not be able to change the venue back to one suitable for AFL games.

Originally published as South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas reveals money demand for Sheffield Shield final to be held at Adelaide Oval