The Courier Mail revealed on Thursday that all major cricket grounds in Australia - including the Gabba - have been pre-booked as a precaution from Friday 22 March to Tuesday 26 March for the Sheffield Shield cricket final.
And with Round One of the 2013 AFL season falling over the Easter weekend, the ground won’t be ready for football in time for the match on Thursday 28 March.
While venues with drop-in pitches can be turned around pretty quickly from cricket to football season, the Gabba’s pitch area needs time to soften before it’s fit for football.
This news comes after the AFL and the Queensland government originally reached an agreement back in 2009 that gave the Gabba exclusive rights to host the annual Easter Thursday blockbuster for a period of five years.
As compensation for this scheduling anomaly, the Lions are demanding another standalone prime-time fixture at the Gabba - with a Friday night clash with heavyweights Collingwood high on the Club’s wish list.
Lions Chief Executive Malcolm Holmes told The Courier Mail that the Club is currently working with the AFL to find a suitable alternative.
"It (Easter Thursday) has traditionally been our biggest game of the year but the ground is unavailable so we have requested a stand-alone fixture against a high-drawing Victorian team to replace it," Holmes said.
"We've made it clear to the AFL just how important that fixture is for us to help grow the game. We are working with them to find a date.”
"Blockbusters are important to all AFL clubs and we are no different. We'd like to have as many high-profile Victorian teams play up here as possible."
The 2013 AFL fixture is expected to be finalised later this month.
