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Sport Nation
Ian Smith: Magical Sheffield Shield scenes reminder of growing disconnect between fans and athletes
Ian Smith • March 31st, 2025 1:00 pm
Photo: AAP
There were wild scenes of joy at the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, the 'Sackers' winning the Sheffield Shield for the first time in 29 years.
The who? The what? The where, you say? What's the relevance?
Well, a South Australian cricket team winning the premier Australian cricket trophy at a back-up ground because Footy - the Aussie style - stole their beloved Adelaide Oval with a massive crowd invasion of joy and delight.
A crowd invasion that wouldn't have happened at the Adelaide Oval because of security and protocol.
Fans standing under the balcony saluting their heroes and being showered with champagne spray. What a beautiful moment - memorable and so rare. How good for the game and for the youngsters who are part of it.
It's an illustration of the Australians who love their sport - and cricket in particular - and a reminder of just how untouchable, precious and inaccessible players have become and how fans have been rejected and - to a large degree - disrespected.
It caught my attention, not so much because of who won an Australian state competition, but what it meant - more so for the fan invasion and the scenes of joy, which are so rare these days.
Would the players have feared for their safety to be that engaging with the fans or would they have appreciated it? The latter, of course.
Would the 30, 40 or 50 or so at Hagley, Seddon, McLean or Eden Park No. 2 have had the same feeling? No, never again at that level. In other words, it's great for everybody and great for the game.
It's time to say to security and the fun police - don't stand in the front row. Stand in the back row. Don't be seen or needed, until you're needed.
What about the Warriors and the crowd invasions at McLean Park, I hear you say?
I know, I know. You're right. It's time for the fans to also respect the game and the players but be allowed the moment and the occasion.
When you're revamping Eden Park - yet again, and again and again - bear that in mind, who you're doing it for and why.
Listen to Mornings with Ian Smith, Mondays to Wednesdays, from 9am-12pm on Sport Nation.
