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Brisbane Lions lose home AFLW grand final to Gold Coast

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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has launched a stunning tirade at Gabba management and ground staff after the venue was declared unsuitable to host the inaugural AFLW grand final on Saturday.

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Melbourne kick a record score, GWS win the wooden spoon, Adelaide beat the Pies to make the grand final and Carlton ruin Brisbane's perfect win-record in the last game of the regular season.

However, McLachlan allayed fears that the round-two mens' season match between Brisbane and Essendon would have to be shifted because of the state of the Gabba turf.

The Gabba surface was ruled unsafe for football following damage from erecting a stage and the use of heavy equipment at an Adele concert there on March 4.

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The Lions women had hoped to host Adelaide there on Saturday after finishing on top of the AFLW ladder.

The women's grand final will now be played on the Gold Coast at Metricon at 2pm, before the Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions AFL season opener.

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It's understood that while some AFL commissioners wanted the game to be played at Adelaide Oval, McLachlan ruled it had to be in Queensland.

An irate and bewildered McLachlan didn't hold back on Monday afternoon.

"Of course I'm angry," McLachan said.

"It's been three weeks [since the concert].

"It's difficult to process how the venue's not available to showcase this game. I feel that it's either a question of competence or prioritisation."

Asked if blame lay with the the Gabba, McLachlan said: "I don't know who else it lies with".

But McLachlan said that the Queensland government were not at fault.

"The Queensland government have been outstanding. We've had regular contact with them over the course of the weekend," he said.

While the AFLW grand final has been shifted, McLachlan insisted the Etihad Stadium playing surface would be up to standard for the AFL's opening round, a week after hosting two Adele concerts.

"There's a great ground staff here who have six days to turn it around. They'll play two games, there'll be no problem," McLachlan said.

St Kilda and Melbourne will clash at the venue on Saturday afternoon, while North Melbourne will host the West Coast Eagles on Sunday.

The issues in Brisbane have angered the Lions, with chief executive Greg Swann dumbfounded that new grass had been sown on the centre-wicket area for next summer's opening Ashes Test.

Queensland cricket officials had wanted football off the Gabba for up to six weeks to allow new grass to set to avoid potentially damaging the pitch.

The Lions are due to stage their home season opener against the Bombers on Saturday April 1.

"We were dumbfounded at the time that somebody would re-sow a wicket that doesn't need to be used until the middle of November or thereabouts," Swann said on Monday.

"Now, this is the repercussion. Even for our first game, that's another issue.

"It's only seven days from when the women's game was supposed to be on, so there might be a little bit of doubt about that, which again is appalling that is even a consideration, but we'll see what happens."

McLachlan downplayed those concerns.

On the possibility the Bombers' clash could be shifted, he said: "That's not my understanding".

Former Lions coach Leigh Matthews said the need to shift the women's match was an "embarrassing stuff up".

Etihad Stadium played host to its two biggest ticketed events over the weekend, with 75,000 people attending Saturday's Adele concert and 77,000 on Sunday.

Stadium spokesman Bill Lane said infrastructure used in the concert would be removed on Monday night and Tuesday, and certain sections of the grass would be replaced.

Turf protection had been in place during the concerts, with the field covered over for patrons. The previous biggest ticketed event at the venue was in 2006, when about 65,000 attended a concert by British pop singer Robbie Williams.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland also bought into the issue, declaring it an "unfortunate situation".

CA is mindful of the need to have the Gabba's centre-wicket area in pristine condition for next summer's opening Ashes Test.

The AFL Players Association did not want to comment when contacted on Monday.