THE wait for an AFL Indigenous All-Stars exhibition match could extend to a fourth year if a change in policy at AFL HQ is not made following the cancellation of last night's match in Alice Springs.
Yesterday's game against Richmond was called off with the damaging effects of ex-Tropical Cyclone Yasi expected to hit Alice Springs and surrounding communities.
An AFL spokesman yesterday told AboriginalFootball that there are as yet no plans to have a game played next year in place of this year's cancelled match with Richmond.
The last All-Stars match was played in Darwin in February 2009, when the Indigenous composite side played Adelaide at Marrara Oval. This week's game was moved from Darwin to Alice Springs after heavy rain over an extended period left the ground unsuitable.
"Our recent plan has been to play the match every second year, so the next match was scheduled for 2013," the AFL spokeman said.
"I've not heard any discussion yet on whether that will now be 2012 since this year's game was cancelled."
Having contingency plans, i.e. AFL-standard ovals in nearby regions or different States 'on call', were cost-prohibitive.
"It is a huge cost factor to move a game on 1-2 day's notice, with things such as flights, broadcaster commitments, etc," the spokesman said.
"The want is always to play the game where possible at a venue. This (Darwin game) was only moved (to Alice Springs) because we knew so far out that TIO (Marrara Oval) was unplayable, but there were significant costs in moving (that) game that the AFL will absorb."
The now-biennial exhibition game was first played in Darwin in 1994 when the Aboriginal side played Collingwood. (Click on the All-Stars link above for the full back story.) The Northern Territory capital has become regarded as the game's 'spiritual home' with matches played there in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Alice Springs had been pencilled in for an All-Stars match in 2013.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Saturday, February 5, 2011
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 04/02/2011 22:20