The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) faced heavy criticism during a fiery Friday night AFL clash. Worries about the quality of its turf grass led to contentious public debate. About one-third of the playing surface was in visibly terrible condition, which has caused alarm for players, coaches, and commentators. The damage comes from an Andrea Bocelli concert that took place at the space on April 3. This event, only 85 days ago, had a very long lasting impact especially at the Bradman Stand end of the ground.
During the game, players had trouble even staying on their feet on the damaged surface. Big clumps of grass became dislodged, killing the rhythm of the game and creating extra potential for injury. Ryley Sanders stumbled and fell as he attempted to send the ball to Aaron Naughton. Consequently, Naughton lost his balance and fell in the same place. Only a few minutes later did Ed Richards fall out of contention when he slipped while pursuing Justin McInerney. Unfortunately, Tim English fell on the dangerous footing.
Notably, James Brayshaw, a high-profile radio and TV commentator at the time, was worried about players’ safety. He noted, “When players are instinctively starting to doubt that they can hold their feet on an AFL ground, that’s a concern.” Yet, amid all the pomp and circumstance, his remarks underscored a rising concern over the fabric of that new playing surface.
Dale Thomas echoed these sentiments, stating, “The grass in that turf area, it’s as bad as you see.” He elaborated on how the condition of the field was affecting players’ performance: “Players trying to lead, both forward and defender, all going to ground. Chunks coming out of it everywhere. It’s horrible up that end.”
Matthew Richardson commented on the widespread impact of the poor turf conditions, saying, “Yeah, it’s not good down there. A lot of players are slipping over, having trouble.”
It’s no wonder that the recent SCG saga has struck fear into the hearts of current players. It’s raised concern from those with a history of playing there. GWS Giants skipper Toby Greene recalled wearing metal studs during a game on May 4 to navigate the challenging conditions. He remarked, “You cannot stand up at one end of the ground. Genuine ice rink. And genuine disgrace.”
The SCG grounds staff have been busting their balls to get the turf back into shape after the Bocelli concert. They’ve faced persistent difficulties, particularly at the beleaguered Paddington end. The litany of problems have resulted in demands by parents for urgent measures to return players to a safer environment.
