AFL to push SMA and State government to cover cost of AFLW grand final if it is at Adelaide Oval
AFL officials will ask the Stadium Management Authority and State government to waive the $60,000 fee to use Adelaide Oval if the Crows win the right to host the AFLW grand final.
AFL officials will ask the Stadium Management Authority and State government to waive the $60,000 fee for opening Adelaide Oval if the Crows earn hosting rights to the first AFLW grand final.
This is to allow the AFL to keep free entry at the gate for the premiership play-off on Saturday, March 25, in line with the fan-friendly policy at AFLW round-robin games.
The $60,000 management fee - to cover the cost of security, gate staff, car park ushers and venue operators - would be easily recouped by the SMA in bar and food sales at the Oval where the Crows could attract at least 30,000 to an AFLW grand final.
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AFL operations chief Travis Auld last night indicated a preference to keep free entry to the AFLW grand final.
“That is a conversation we need to have,” Auld said on radio FIVEaa. “We would need the venue to help. In Adelaide, we would need support from the oval management and state government.
“But we would love (free entry to the AFLW grand final) to be the case - and we’d be sure of there being a very strong crowd to a Crows grand final.”
SA Amateur Football League officials will make their own submission to the Crows and AFL to have the grand final played at Thebarton Oval. But the prospect of a 30,000-strong crowd would be almost twice the capacity of Thebarton Oval, forcing the AFL to favour the 50,000-seat Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide is the new AFLW premiership favourite after starting the seven-game preliminary rounds with a 3-0 win-loss record. The AFL is committed to handing hosting rights to the AFLW grand final to the top-ranked team at the end of the round-robin series.
Adelaide’s prospects of protecting its unbeaten record were enhanced yesterday when star forward Kellie Gibson was kept on the team selection whiteboard at West Lakes after having scans on her injured right ankle.
Gibson, one of the Crows’ “marquee’ signings, rolled the ankle early in the three-point win against Carlton at Thebarton Oval on Sunday. Scans have revealed no serious damage, allowing Gibson to stay in the frame for selection for this Sunday’s away clash with Fremantle (6.35pm start SA time).
Adelaide’s big test to stay the competition leader - and frontrunner of a home AFLW grand final - is expected in a fortnight when the Crows play their last home game in Adelaide. Bec Goddard’s team will host the unbeaten Brisbane line-up at Norwood Oval on Saturday, March 4 (6.40pm start).
Adelaide’s fourth “home” game - against Melbourne on Saturday, March 11 - will be in Darwin to recognise the NT’s contribution to the Crows women’s program.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
Originally published as AFL to push SMA and State government to cover cost of AFLW grand final if it is at Adelaide Oval
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