THE GABBA and Metricon Stadium are both unavailable to host the AFLW Grand Final, leaving a question mark over where it will be played should Brisbane earn hosting rights for the season decider.
The AFL is yet to confirm the exact date of the AFLW Grand Final, but it is slated for the weekend of November 25-27. Details of the AFLW Grand Final have historically been confirmed close to the event.
Brisbane finished on top the ladder this season and should the Lions win their preliminary final next weekend, they would earn hosting rights.
But cricket matches either side of Grand Final weekend – a Sheffield Shield match on December 1-4 and the first Test against South Africa beginning on December 17 – means the Gabba will be off-limits for footy.
The Lions have played one final at Metricon Stadium so far this finals series, but the Gold Coast stadium is also unavailable due to a Guns N’ Roses concert on November 24 and a music festival three days later.
Brisbane's new $80 million training and administration base at Springfield is not yet ready, with the turf for Brighton Homes Arena laid less than a month ago and still unfit to play on.
The women's team moved into their new home two weeks ago, but have been training at a nearby sporting complex.
Last week, AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone had flagged further discussions with the Queensland government about venue availability for the Grand Final should Brisbane earn hosting rights.
But a joint statement from Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket this week said that there would be no change in the existing schedule for the Gabba, despite an "informal" enquiry from the AFL regarding accessing the venue.
"We have a huge Test match between two of the world's top teams at the Gabba next month and the playing surface has been undergoing renovation and recovery since the ICC T20 Men's World Cup games at the ground," the statement read.
"As part of the preparation, and to ensure the ground is in great shape for the Test match, the next game of cricket will be a Marsh Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Western Australia from 1 December.
"We are very aware of the importance of providing the Gabba's curatorial staff with the best opportunity to produce their usual Test-standard pitch ahead of the series against the Proteas, as well as getting the venue ready for the KFC Big Bash League matches featuring the Brisbane Heat that follow on from that."
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The AFL says it will wait to see who earns hosting rights before making any announcement about a venue.
"We still need to wait to see who's going to make the Grand Final," Livingstone said last week.
"I don't want to put the cart before the horse – we need to make sure that Brisbane are going to be the hosts."
The AFL told womens.afl it is working with all the remaining finalists to ensure a suitable Grand Final venue is found.