SA lobby group declares: Victoria once took the Grand Prix from South Australia – let’s take the AFL Grand Final for a season
COVID-19 has knocked the MCG out of Grand Final contention and now SA leaders are evoking memories of our GP loss as motivation to take Victoria’s most coveted event to footy-mad Adelaide.
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South Australia has sent a clear message to the AFL, we’re open for business and we want the AFL grand final.
The South Australian government declared the Adelaide Oval to be the best stadium in Australia, with South Australians among the game’s most passionate supporters.
As the league grapples with the ever-worsening COVID-19 infection tally in both Victoria and now New South Wales, the AFL announced it would base all Victorian teams in Queensland after the completion of round eight.
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While earlier in the season, the SA government refused to grant special exemptions to allow Victorian-based clubs to enter the state without the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, it has now made very clear its intention to make a play to host football’s biggest day.
In a four-word statement the government said: “Adelaide Oval is available”.
“We all know it’s the best stadium in the nation and we are a passionate AFL state,” a government spokesperson said.
“The State Government looks forward to having discussions with the AFL in the coming weeks.”
While the Victorian Government is not giving up hope of this year’s grand final being played at the MCG given it could still be 15 weeks away, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the move to house the Victorian teams in her state for the remainder of the season meant the “grand final should be played here, too”.
But a peak SA business lobby group said playing the AFL grand final at Adelaide Oval was a no-brainer.
“Forget Queensland, the decision is a simple one, bring the grand final to Australia’s greatest stadium in the nation’s safest state,” SA’s executive director of the Property Council of Australia, Daniel Gannon, said.
“It would be a powerful shot in the arm to local businesses, hotel operators and confidence across the state, not to mention a historic opportunity to get our hands on this iconic event.
“Victoria once took the Grand Prix from South Australia – let’s take the AFL grand final for a season and provide a safe, healthy environment for teams, players and spectators involved.”
Mr Gannon said the SA Property Council had contacted the office of Premier, Steven Marshall, to throw their support behind any push to host the grand final.
“SA is uniquely geographically positioned in between the east and west coasts of the country, we are the safest state in the safest nation in the world at the moment,” he said.
“(It’s) a no-brainer, the AFL should hold the grand final in a rich, proud AFL state like South Australia.”
Port Adelaide’s ruckman Scott Lycett said it would “be nice” to have this year’s grand final played at Adelaide Oval.
“I think every South Australian would say that,” he said.
“ (Adelaide Oval’s) an amazing stadium, everyone who’s been there when it’s packed can see that.
“I don’t think my opinion’s going to sway the AFL … but I’m sure they’re making all the right decisions with what’s best for the game and I’ll back them in every time.”
Originally published as SA lobby group declares: Victoria once took the Grand Prix from South Australia – let’s take the AFL Grand Final for a season