Furious AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has attacked the judgment of Gabba management after the women's grand final had to be moved.
McLachlan said it was known three weeks ago the ground might be needed and said it was an issue of competence or priorities.
Lions chief executive Greg Swann went further, saying the saga left them dumbfounded and singling out Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell for criticism.
McLachlan remains confident the Gabba will be ready for the round-two Brisbane-Essendon AFL match, although there are ongoing concerns about the April 1 fixture.
It was only confirmed on Monday afternoon that the Gabba was unavailable for the Brisbane-Adelaide grand final, with the Saturday match moved to Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium.
The women's grand final will be played before the Suns open their AFL season in the evening against the Lions.
Brisbane finished top in the inaugural women's season, giving them home-ground advantage for the grand final.
"It's difficult to process how the venue is not available to showcase this game (the grand final) - I feel it's either a question of competence or prioritisation," McLachlan said.
"Of course I'm angry."
McLachlan laid the blame squarely at the Gabba, thanking the Queensland government for trying to solve the issue.
He said the government was also offering transport help for fans wanting to attend the women's grand final and the AFL chief hoped it would attract more than 10,000 fans.
Swann said the Gabba unavailability was "totally unfair and totally ridiculous".
"Maybe the person that cuts the grass wasn't too conscious of what might happen for AFL football," he added, in a clear reference to Mitchell.
"We were dumbfounded at the time that someone would re-sow a wicket that isn't needed until the middle of November (for cricket).
Asked if he was angry at Gabba staff, Swann said: "probably more at one person than anybody else, to be honest".
McLachlan was asked whether the AFL might look at a set venue for the women's grand final in future.
"You could look at that - I just don't know why we have to have that discussion.
"I mean, really - three weeks!
"These venues are billion-dollar pieces of infrastructure, there to be used, and that's the incumbency on the people managing them to get them ready."
McLachlan said he had been told the Gabba would be ready for the Brisbane-Essendon game.
"I have been advised it will be (available) - until I have further knowledge, that's the advice I will work off.
"That's as recently as a couple of hours ago."
The Gabba is unavailable because the Adele concerts on March 4-5 damaged the turf.
McLachlan was asked if the Adele concert at Etihad Stadium would cause any problems this weekend for the two round-one AFL games.
"Zero," he said pointedly.
McLachlan was asked about the complexity of the issue - that the ground is unavailable this weekend, but should be for the Brisbane-Essendon game, and that it revolves around the wicket for the November Ashes Test at the Gabba.
"These are great questions," he replied.
The AFL looked at Adelaide Oval, Ikon Park and even the MCG as other potential venues.
Swann and Queensland sports minister Mick De Brenni continue to have concerns over the Gabba hosting the Brisbane-Essendon match.
"It appears that even the start of the AFL men's season may be in jeopardy if we continue to see the sorts of weather we have seen today," De Brenni said.
"I am going to get to the bottom of what has occurred in terms of the management of the pitch."
Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said he was sympathetic to the "unfortunate" situation.
"The centre area of the ground is incredibly important for both our sports - and together with the AFL, we will be looking to engage with Stadiums Queensland about future major events at the Gabba, to ensure the turf isn't compromised in this way again," he said.
