The whispers that the final could be held in Adelaide Oval began to circulate after the victory over Western Australia in Perth last month, but nothing could happen officially until southern Australia confirmed that they would organize the final.
Currently, the final is scheduled for March 26 to March 30. An important problem is that Adelaide Oval delivery launches have already been eliminated from the place ahead of the first game at the AFL Club Adela Crows House on March 16. The other AFL club in southern Australia, Port Adelaide, is scheduled to play his first game at home in Veleus on Saturday, March 22.
If the shield final was organized in Adelaide Oval, it should advance two days to play between Monday, March 24 and Friday, March 28, interspersed between weekend football accessories with crows playing at home again on March 30.
It is understood that a single delivery surface could be established after the AFL game is completed on March 22. The launch would have already prepared elsewhere and would be ready to play on March 24 with the cutting of the field at an acceptable level.
“We are in now. I think it was part of the step,” Harris told Espncricinfo after the victory over Victoria on Sunday. “I have left people about me, but I think he is gaining impulse.
“I think there are some small bridges to cross this week. But now I think that the fact that it has been confirmed that we are in Adelaida, I suppose we will hear in the next few days, what happens there.
“But I want to say that we want to play there. We love there. It may be a bit different. The garden could be a bit slower, but when we play early in September, October, it is quite slow anyway, so I don’t think it’s very different.
“But ultimately, if we can leave, it would be great. But obviously, we also understand football in agreement. But as far as I know, the conversations have been really positive, so we will wait and see in the next few days.”
A shield final has not been played in any of those places since 2012 when Queensland was host of the final in the Gabba. Since then, Victoria has organized finals in Alice Springs and Hobart, while New South Wales organized a final in Canberra before Oval Junction and Central cricket became viable land. Queensland organizes two finals at Allan Border Field in recent years.
The Prime Minister of Australia del Sur, Peter Malinauskas, has even been involved and has already spoken with local AFL clubs on the subject.
“This problem has caught my attention, I spent a little time making some calls,” Malinauskas told ABC Radio last week. “I am quite optimistic that with some careful reason, there is a commitment here that allows you to play in Adelaide Oval.
“But everyone will have to give a little. There are a lot of moving parts in this, but after the calls I have made, I am quite optimistic, we will obtain the correct result if the wisest heads prevail. I think the crows have appetite for pragmatism here, and that is for its great credit. The AFL has a role to play.”
The last shield game of Australia in the south of the house season and outside the house begins on Saturday, March 15, but was already scheduled to play in Karen Rolton Oval.
AFL is receptive to allow the final to play among weekend football games with the Executive President of the AFL, Andrew Dillon, saying that the League was open to cooperation.
“As we do with other sports where we have a programming shock, we are lucky to play in the best stadiums in Australia in all our capital cities and we know that these stages are built and operated because they are multidported,” Dillon said at a press conference last week. “Then, if you can accommodate within our schedule, we would see it absolutely.”
Playing the final in Adelaide Oval would shorten the change from the last round of the regular season from seven days to five for the travel team that qualifies. Queensland, Western Australia, Nueva Gales del Sur and Victoria remains an opportunity depending on the results of the final round.
“If that arises, that would be incredible, because I think the last time we played in the final of the shield at home was in Glenelg,” Lehmann said. “We really have a great crowd there, and it was good. But also, I love Adelaide Oval. I think it’s the best stadium in the world. You know, it only produces a good Wickt Good Wickt from cricket, great stadium. So I would love to be able to do that.”
Meanwhile, Harris confirmed that Carey will be available for the final game of the Shield season of Australia in the south of the season against Queensland and the final.
“As far as I know, he will return next week and for the final now,” said Harris. “That is huge. Getting a player who plays quite well right now. I watched his tickets the other night in the Champions Trophy, I don’t think he had seen him hit as well as that.”
“All good with that,” Harris said. “That is what they want to do. I think they are probably having a little fomo now and they would like to be here. But that’s fine.”
Alex Malcolm is an associated editor in Espncricinfo
