Coast steals AFL final
AFL boss blasts Gabba over rejection of AFLW decider
THE Gold Coast will host the inaugural AFL women’s grand final between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows. The match will be played at Metricon Stadium on Saturday and admission will be free.
FURIOUS AFL boss Gillon McLachlan launched a stunning attack on Gabba management yesterday as the Gold Coast Suns celebrated the decision to relocate Saturday’s inaugural AFL Women’s grand final to Metricon Stadium.
The Suns’ AFL seasonopening Qclash against Brisbane scheduled for the Gold Coast will now feature an impressive curtain raiser, with the women’s decider between the Lions and Adelaide Crows relocated after Stadiums Queensland ruled out using the Gabba as the grass had not recovered from the Adele concert on March 4 and 5.
It is a huge coup for the Suns and AFL on the Gold Coast to host the inaugural grand final, with entry free for the 1pm first bounce ahead of the Qclash which is scheduled to start at 7.05pm.
Footy fans will still need a ticket for the AFL match.
“It’s fantastic for the club and the city,” Eade said.
“It is actually a really good thing even if it is a bit unfortunate for the Lions, I guess.
“For Queensland football it’s far better having it here than having to go to Adelaide. Putting my Queensland footy and tourism hat on, it is absolutely terrific for us.”
McLachlan said it was known three weeks ago the ground might be needed and said it was an issue of “competence or prioritisation”.
Lions chief executive Greg Swann went further, saying the saga left them dumbfounded and singling out Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell for criticism for putting November’s Ashes cricket Test as his priority over AFL action.
“It’s difficult to process how the venue is not available to showcase this game (the grand final),” McLachlan said. “Of course I’m angry.”
McLachlan laid the blame squarely at the Gabba, thanking the state government for trying to solve the issue.
He said the government was also offering transport help for fans wanting to attend the women’s grand final and the AFL chief hoped it would attract more than 10,000 fans.
Swann said the Gabba unavailability was “totally unfair and totally ridiculous”.
“Maybe the person that cuts the grass wasn’t too conscious of what might happen for AFL football,” he added, in a clear reference to Mitchell. “We were dumbfounded at the time that someone would re-sow a wicket that isn’t needed until the middle of November (for cricket).”
Asked if he was angry at Gabba staff, Swann said: “Probably more at one person than anybody else”.
McLachlan was asked whether the AFL might look at a set venue for the women’s grand final in future.
“You could look at that – I just don’t know why we have to have that discussion. I mean, really – three weeks!
“These venues are billiondollar pieces of infrastructure, there to be used, and that’s the incumbency on the people managing them to get them ready.”
McLachlan was asked if the Adele concert at Etihad Stadium would cause any problems this weekend for the two round-one AFL games.
“Zero,” he said pointedly.