The AFL was yesterday forced to move the inaugural women’s premiership decider, which will see the Crows take on Brisbane in Queensland, to Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast after the Gabba surface was ruled unsafe.

Long-time curator Kevin Mitchell’s decision to lay new turf after an Adele concert on March 5, with an eye on preparing for an Ashes Test in November, is at the heart of the issue.

Brown was disappointed but not surprised by the turn of events given his experience with the venue’s management over the course of his decorated playing career.

“I lived this for 15-16 years… the AFL are second-rate citizens in Brisbane, especially when it comes to the Gabba,” Brown told Fox Footy last night.

“It’s all about the cricket. Fair dinkum, for the government heavyweights not to be able to step in in this situation… it’s like Kevin Mitchell is the be-all and end-all there.

“It’s an absolute disgrace.

“We’re trying to grow AFL in Queensland still and for it not to be at the Gabba is really disappointing.”

Brown said that he had even been required to ask permission to have a kick out on the turf in the middle of football season, such was the curator’s authority.

Lions chief executive Greg Swann was dumbfounded by the decision to re-sow part of the wicket area, which has also thrown some doubt over Brisbane’s men’s fixture against Essendon on April 1.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan fumed at the venue’s handling of the situation, but added he had received assurances the ground would be ready for the Lions-Bombers match.

He stopped short of accusing venue staff of sabotaging Brisbane’s bid to host the grand final at the Gabba.

“That’s a slightly different word – I just think this wasn’t made a priority and that’s what really disappointed me,” he told Fox Footy.

“It just feels inconceivable that we get to a situation where the ground is not available.

“It’s very disappointing, it doesn’t make any sense to me, I don’t think anyone contemplated it wouldn’t be there… they’ve had three weeks.

“It was either a competence or prioritisation (issue)… I think it was prioritisation – I mean, you can get a ground ready in three weeks.”

Despite the disappointment, McLachlan said the league’s focus has quickly turned to making the clash the biggest spectacle possible.

“We’re going to make this a great game on Saturday,” he said.

“It will be a good crowd, we were very aggressive with the state government and I’ve been thrilled with their engagement on this from the Premier down.”

Disappointed Lions marquee Sabrina Frederick-Traub hopes the shock switch to the Gold Coast does not deter fans from flocking to a “once in a lifetime” event.

“I was a little bit disappointed,” she said.

“For us our home is the Gabba but home is also Queensland.”

-AAP