Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Ian Collins, manager of Etihad Stadium, has finally admitted that the playing surface needs to be improved after months of defending it. This comes after heavy criticism of the ground from commentators, the media, players, coaches and a host of fans in website comments and on talkback radio. The AFLPA also polled its members about the possibility of boycotting the ground and flagged the possibility of games moved from the stadium unless improvements are made. The AFL, which previously defended the ground, has also admitted that the condition of the playing surface is unacceptable.

AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis said the AFL may have been hesitant in admitting the ground's unsuitability for fear of potential lawsuits if a player or players were seriously injured. There are precedents for such a scenario with former Carlton player Shane O'Sullivan and former Adelaide player Shaun Rehn filing lawsuits after suffering serious injuries due to ground conditions. However, the AFL and Etihad management could not ignore what happened in Round 17 with Hawthorn and St Kilda players slipping over throughout the game. Representatives from Etihad, the AFL and the AFLPA met the week after the game and watched video footage of the game. After the meeting Etihad officials conceded that the surface could have been better prepared for games, that other techniques for ground preparation could have been used and that the majority of slipping incidents happened on areas of recently re-laid turf. The last item is key as Etihad officials stated that the authorized allotment of the turf they usually use was exhausted and they had to revert to turf previously used which had caused problems in the past.

Finnis said that 32 representatives from the 16 clubs would support a change of venue if ground conditions did not improve. Players from clubs who have tenant agreements with Etihad also said they felt compromised by League rules as to how far they could go in criticizing the surface as well as concerns over the fact the the stadium had scheduled a rugby match there in between two Round 18 AFL games. Criticism of the playing surface has also come from players and coaches of rugby and soccer teams, including one of the teams scheduled to play there between the AFL's Round 18 games.

Both the AFLPA and the AFL have requested that the stadium not book other events into the ground after Christmas so it can be properly prepared for the AFL preseason and home and away season. They have also requested that the routine ground inspections (done at every ground before games) be conducted midweek rather than the day before the game. Ground officials did admit that an AC/DC concert held five days before the preseason may have been less than ideal to ensure the ground was properly prepared for the upcoming AFL games. They have also assured the League and AFLPA that they would take steps to improve the ground before Round 18. They have also proposed measures for continued improvements. These include:

Hollow coring the ground to aerate it. This was done prior to the match between North Melbourne and Essendon but not before the Hawthorn versus St Kilda game on the Friday night.

Top-dressing the ground weekly instead of every two weeks to allow better traction for players.

Take advisement from AFL turf consultants.

Make recommendations for the type of boots players should wear on the ground.

This last item is one of concern for players due to stadium management previously blaming players wearing improper footwear. After the Round 18 game, Hawk Sam Mitchell said he tried changing boots with different types of studs but it didn't help due to the turf itself being different in different areas.

Ed. Note: Etihad manager Ian Collins is a former Carlton player and club official. He left Carlton to take up a position with the AFL, then left that position to take on the  management role with Etihad.

Source: heraldsun.com.au, the age.com.au, afl.com.au, AFL Media Release from Patrick Keane