Kris Grant voicing his opinion on the AFL moving the Dogs v Eagles trial game...
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/bulldogs-told-to-move-it-by-afl/story-e6frecj3-1225836961015Zac Milbank @ The Advertiser wrote:
Bulldogs told to move it by AFL
CENTRAL District chief executive Kris Grant has questioned whether the AFL is "a trifle precious" after the league's decision to shift the Bulldogs' trial match from Hamra Homes Oval tomorrow night.
With the Dogs' hosting Adelaide's NAB Challenge match against Melbourne at Elizabeth on Saturday evening, the AFL has acted to protect the surface of the ground before the 4pm clash.
But Grant has questioned the move, claiming it has "mucked us around" in rearranging the club's SANFL practice game against Woodville-West Torrens - which will now be held at Thebarton Oval from 5.30pm tomorrow.
"Is AFL football a trifle precious?" Grant said.
"There's nothing wrong with our surface. And given the Crows played in the flowing Todd River (at Alice Springs' Traeger Park) last week and the state of Etihad Stadium the week before, I can't come to grips with it.
"I don't think (Hamra Homes Oval surface) is an issue and my people who look after the oval don't think it's an issue. But we weighed it up and thought it would be too bigger disappointment for the northern community if we were to have the (AFL) game somewhere else."
Instead of the Bulldogs playing two separate games (league and reserves) consisting of four quarters against the Eagles, a combined match of six 20-minute quarters will be the new format.
"It's really mucked us around because we were scheduled to play a full league and reserves match," Grant said.
"As we haven't had many hitouts it's really disappointing for us and at the last minute it was really hard to find an alternative ground."
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:12 pm
