Worst ground surface in the AFL?

[Jimmy]

What is the worst ground in the afl surface wise? i have noticed TD gets a bit of attention in this area noting Malthouses little kick of the divet.

I ask this as there is a ground here in Adelaide; Unley Oval and, as its the home ground of my beloved double blues and i love it, i must admit is shocking. It has rained ****eloads and there is more mud than grass on it. A poor standard oval to be playing SANFL on.

Although, AAMI Stadium looks quite good despite the rain!!!

 

[Bomber Spirit]

At AFL level, Docklands had a lot of problems early but is gradually improving. Stadium Australia can be a shocker.
At local footy level, without the drainage that the major grounds get and especially with water restrictions in place, some of them are rock-hard dustbowls. In Sydney, Gore Hill Oval is the worst I've come across, but Olds Park and Wagener Oval aren't much better.

 

[Lockyer24]

The Dome currently would be the only one you'd say is ruining the spectacle of the game.

 

[Ricketts]

the dome is a disgrace and should be knocked down, never to have any sport played there again.

 

[PoRtBoYzEz]

Originally posted by Ricketts
the dome is a disgrace and should be knocked down, never to have any sport played there again.

well how are St Kilda and the Bombers ever going to win another game without the dome?

The surface is a disgrace though and something drastic has to be done. Seeing AFL players slip over all game because of a pathetic surface just isn't good enough!!!

 

[viper60]

the dome is a disgrace and should be knocked down, never to have any sport played there again.

It will be a big call just to get the AFL to admit they have messed up with the field design even with it so obvious.

 

[PoRtBoYzEz]

Originally posted by viper60
It will be a big call just to get the AFL to admit they have messed up with the field design even with it so obvious.

was anyone ever held responsible for the design flaws (especially the stadium facing the wrong way)? or are you indicating that they might be in total denial about the flaws and thus thats it on the matter as far as the AFL is concerned?

 

[viper60]

It would be hard to believe but I think the AFL powers that be are in total denial that there is a problem at all.

From previous statements from the AFL I feel they prefer to put it down to clubs just whinging.

 

[PoRtBoYzEz]

unfortunately i think u you may be right

but i can't see how whinging clubs cause players to fall and slip over at the Dome more than any other surface at anyother venue. Or have to deal with intense sunlight when the roof is open during the day. Its just ludicrous

Even if they do accept reality i can't see the afl or any other concerned party stumping up the money to find a permanent solution to the problems. It really is sad considering its revolutionary spectator facilities and comfort.

 

[viper60]

Just out of curiosity who has been there & what is the stadium like?

 

[KangaFett]

half the problem with the donkey dome is the grass never gets a chance to really establish itself....4 months break between seasons is nothing.....grass takes a year or two and as soon as it gets going the rip it up and the grass they bring in to replace is basically very young as well.

they should have made the roof slide futher back so it casts less of a shadow or they should have put the playing surface on retractable railes so they can slide it outside into the open.

 

[stellation]

Originally posted by Bomber Spirit
In Sydney, Gore Hill Oval is the worst I've come across

Agree with you totally there, I am just down the road and go up there reguarly to have a run and some shots on goal- I usually end up with sore shins and I swear it is running on Gore Hill Oval that does it and not the run on the road to get there/home. I heard North Shore were going to move their games away from Gore Hill for the rest of the season (not sure if they did). I still see kids running around up there on a Saturday (for the Wildcats?) and I always cringe.

At AFL level I would have to say anything with Telstra in the name seems to struggle.

 

[OldLion]

Dome .. but we can't say that, can we. I like the Coodabeens' analogy between Reality TV - the purpose-built house - and the Dome. Which 'housemates' will be expelled this week ? Remember Waverley and the promise of footy for all ? Have a look at it now - hard to believe.

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

SCG surface is really bad during winter. Corin Rowe was telling me that the turf is starting to stink really badly.

 

[Ateen7tee]

Dome surface worst: survey
By Caroline Wilson
July 16, 2004

The controversial Telstra Dome surface was voted as the worst in the AFL, according to players in a survey privately released this week.

In a player ranking taken over last season that rated nine key AFL venues, one-quarter of the footballers surveyed rated two of the three main areas of Telstra Dome as poor.

The Docklands stadium was given the highest poor rating of the grounds surveyed. But this has not deterred the AFL in its push to schedule more games at Telstra Dome next season.

AFL executive Ben Buckley conceded last night that he had talked to Dome chief Ian Collins about Carlton switching home games from Optus Oval to Telstra Dome.

The survey figures were released to the AFL and the curators of every AFL playing and training venue, all of whom attended a special turf conference on Tuesday.


AFL Players Association chief executive Rob Kerr emphasised last night that the player ratings were taken over the 2003 season and that his association recognised that Telstra Dome had improved this year.

"The reality is that significant efforts were undertaken to try to improve the surface," Kerr said. "I would say the surface is having its best year."

Kerr pointed out that the controversial criticism of the Telstra Dome surface last June had led to the formation of a special subcommittee and a review of the turf replacement schedule and a series of other initiatives, including the withdrawal of all special events between Christmas 2003 and the start of the 2004 season.

Buckley emphasised that his meeting with Collins had included talks over Telstra Dome's capacity to hold the extra Carlton games, but that the Carlton decision would be undertaken by Carlton.

Buckley would not comment on a series of reports by The Age that the AFL offered the Blues $3 million to move its home games to the Dome.

Optus Oval, incidentally, received a massive thumbs-up from the players - its highest good rating was 77 per cent while its lowest poor rating was 4.3 per cent. Skilled Stadium at Geelong received a similarly positive response although the most popular ground was Adelaide's AAMI Stadium.

Kerr said that most clubs participated in the survey that rated each ground's centre, centre half-forward and half-forward flank areas. The possible ratings were good, satisfactory or poor.

While the MCG's highest good rating was only 49 per cent, its worst performed area - the centre - received only a 7 per cent poor vote from the players compared with Telstra Dome's worst poor rating of 26 per cent.

AAMI Stadium and Perth's Subiaco finished narrowly ahead of the Gabba with the highest good ratings, although the players were critical of both the Gabba's and particularly the SCG's centre wicket areas.