Collingwood furious with decision to switch Round 1 match from ANZ Stadium to SCG

UPDATE: A FURIOUS Gary Pert says Collingwood will demand compensation over the decision to switch the Magpies’ Round 1 clash from ANZ Stadium as a war of words erupted with the Swans.

C'wood Presser

A FURIOUS Collingwood will demand compensation from the AFL for the club and its ­affected fans over the decision to switch the Magpies’ Round 1 clash with Sydney from ANZ Stadium to the SCG.

Magpies chief executive Gary Pert admitted the club was angry it had been blindsided by the Swans’ decision to end its deal with ANZ Stadium a year early, moving the March 26 game.

He was also disappointed none of the senior AFL executives had contacted the club to let them know.

Collingwood was scrambling to search for new accommodation for the team in the heart of Sydney instead of near ANZ Stadium, as well as seek new training facilities.

Further souring Pert’s mood was Swans chairman Andrew Pridham making light of the situation, joking that Collingwood counterpart Eddie McGuire could stay in his spare room.

Pert said Pridham’s comments showed “poor leadership”, with the Pies chief saying Sydney and the AFL could foot the bill for any logistical changes the Magpies have to make.

“I think it’s far more than a minor hiccup. It’s very unfortunate — not only what the Swans have done, but the way that they’re dealing with it,” Pert said on SEN.

“For the Swans to relocate without any communication is not only disrespectful, but unprofessional and inappropriate.

“It’s an indictment on the AFL and the Swans, the fact that we found out about it from social media. We’ll want answers and there’s no doubt we’ll want compensation. It’s Easter weekend, so there’s little accommodation (available).

“If it’s the most expensive accommodation in Sydney (that we have to book), that’ll be fine, and the AFL and Sydney Swans can foot the bill. I think it’d be 100 per cent guaranteed. The Sydney Swans have done this and inconvenienced everyone to make some extra money, so I would assume it’d come out of that payday for them.”

Pridham described Collingwood’s reaction as “a bit of a beat-up” and said he doesn’t intend on speaking with Magpies officials about the issue.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” he said.

“We’ve moved the game from Homebush to Moore Park — not to Newcastle. We’ve got perfectly good roads and I’m sure in 20 minutes or so, they’ll be there.

“No, we haven’t spoken. I don’t think we will. I think it’s a bit of a beat-up. I saw some of the Collingwood players — including Scott Pendlebury — tweeting that they were delighted that the game’s moved.”

Great result for footy, SCG ✔️👍

— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) February 29, 2016

The club was also inundated with numerous complaints from members and supporters who had already booked to stay near Homebush.

It is understood several thousand Magpie fans could be affected by the change.

Complicating matters is the fact the clash is on Easter Saturday, meaning most of the ­accommodation options are either already booked or available at inflated prices.

“It sounds like the AFL have been working with the Sydney Swans and not bothering to ­include us in the conversation,” a frustrated Pert said.

“To put it into perspective, we travel at different times for matches played at ANZ Stadium and the SCG, and we stay at different places as well.

“We’ve already booked our accommodation out at ANZ Stadium and now we are going to have to relocate back into the city, and there is a major question mark on whether we will find available accommodation.

“Already the prices are double what they were.”

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert.

He said he felt for Magpie fans affected by the decision, as well as corporate clients ­already booked into accommodation a long way from the SCG.

“We have been swamped by our supporters who are travelling to the game, asking why we didn’t let them know earlier,” Pert said.

“How can we do that when we didn’t even know?

“As I am standing here now, we still haven’t been told ­officially from Gil (McLachlan), Travis Auld or Mark Evans.”

Sydney chief executive ­Andrew Ireland said the club had been working towards a resolution on its ANZ deal since November, but he said those discussions had intensified in the past three weeks.

While the AFL was aware of the discussion, Ireland said they finally checked off the switch yesterday morning.

He said the ANZ Stadium operators wanted to keep the discussions private until its shareholders could be advised, which effectively kept Collingwood out of the loop.

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