AFL, soccer stage turf war over Telstra Dome
Damian Barrett | February 17, 2009
FOOTBALL and soccer are in pitched battle over who can use Telstra Dome on Saturday week.
The AFL says it has the rights to the venue on February 28, and wants Collingwood to play Richmond, with Ben Cousins expected to make his Tigers debut, in a NAB Cup fixture.
But Football Federation Australia says it has set aside the stadium that night for the A-League grand final between Melbourne Victory and the winner of the Queensland Roar-Adelaide United preliminary final.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou told the Herald Sun his organisation had locked in the venue on that date when it released its NAB Cup fixture in October.
"At this stage we have a dilemma as it (the Collingwood-Richmond game) is due to fall on a Saturday night, which the Victory might be playing as well," Demetriou said.
"It could be Ben Cousins' first game, so there could be a dilemma there for all concerned. It is scheduled for Saturday night, Telstra Dome.
"It is in our fixture, and we put that NAB Cup draw out in October. So we will see what happens."
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said he had received an assurance from Telstra Dome management that the A-League grand final would be played there on February 28.
"We have been advised from Telstra Dome that we can, and are able to play the match on that night," Buckley told the Herald Sun last night.
Asked if the AFL's stance was a sign of it going head-to-head against soccer, Demetriou said: "You're using those words.
"The MCG is not available. It's not about staking a claim, but we have got a booking priority (at Telstra Dome), under our agreement."
Told that FFA had announced Telstra Dome as the venue for the A-League grand final on that night, Demetriou said: "They are playing at a venue we normally play football at."
The MCG can not stage the NAB Cup match because drop-in wickets required for cricket would still be in place.
Telstra Dome chief executive Ian Collins could not be contacted, but the venue's communications manager Bill Lane said talks with the AFL were continuing.
"As far as we are concerned, we are still in communications with the AFL," Lane said.
"We would have thought staging the (NAB Cup) game on a Thursday night, or a Monday, would have been a reasonable outcome, and we think the matter can be resolved amicably."
Asked the stadium's preferred outcome on the standoff, Lane said: "We are aware the Football Federation has announced the game, the A-League grand final, will be played here on the Saturday, and we are happy with that announcement."
Telstra Dome management was convinced the AFL would move the Collingwood-Richmond match, but it is believed the AFL was asked by Channel 10 to keep it in its original timeslot.
Melbourne Victory's use of Telstra Dome has become part of legal action taken by the AFL against management of the Docklands venue.
Also crucial to that action was a decision by the venue management to name airline Etihad as the ground's new naming rights sponsor, because the AFL has Qantas as a major sponsor.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25065018-19742,00.html
