South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has expressed strong disapproval of AFL officials who requested taxpayer concessions to allow the Sheffield Shield final to be hosted at the Adelaide Oval. While he did not specify the officials involved, it is believed their demands are linked to an existing multimillion-dollar transport agreement with the AFL teams, Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide.
Malinauskas voiced his frustration, stating, “It’s rather disappointing to see individuals using a chance to benefit fans as a means to extract funds from taxpayers, which I will firmly oppose.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has announced that the originally requested concessions have been retracted, yet a formal agreement for the Sheffield Shield final remains unsealed, especially considering the scheduling conflict with two AFL matches. The primary concern now hinges on the quality of the pitch and the implications for player safety; questions have arisen regarding liability if a player suffers an injury due to an inferior playing surface.
However, officials at the Adelaide Oval are optimistic about their capability to manage both football and cricket events within a short timeframe.