From a spectator’s viewpoint, it’s always a great spectacle – either live or on television. However, AFL players and officials can’t say the same.
When Australian Rules ventures out to Olympic Park, the stadium drops the ball.
In the eyes of the footy community, the venue’s reputation is poor. And footy clubs appear to be sick of it.
ANZ Stadium has hosted two AFL games this season. In the aftermath of both of those matches, the ground has come under criticism.
During the first quarter of Collingwood’s six-point victory over Sydney on Saturday night, Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh claimed he found three ‘metal stakes’ on the venue’s turf.
These pegs were used to attach grow mats to help the playing surface in the days leading up to the match. They were handed to trainers throughout the term and ground officials investigated the surface during the quarter-time break.
In recent days, both the AFL and stadium officials have conducted investigations into McVeigh’s claims.
Yesterday, ground management confirmed three 10 centimetre-long, u-shaped pegs with sharp ends were lying on the ground during the first term.
How do three, dangerous metal pegs get left on an AFL field?
Can you imagine the uproar if high-profile players such as Adam Goodes, Dane Swan, Ryan O’Keefe or Dale Thomas had fallen headfirst onto the rods and suffered an injury?
In fact, imagine if any player had succumbed to the stakes. There would be consequences.
However, it’s not just metal that’s been hanging loose on ANZ Stadium in recent years.
The turf itself is often very loose.
As his team’s delegate, Jude Bolton sent a letter to the AFL Players’ Association, voicing his concern on ANZ Stadium’s surface after Sydney’s match against Essendon earlier this season.
There have been reports that Magpies’ skipper Nick Maxwell was also unhappy with the condition of the ground after Saturday night’s match.
Both men complained about the ground’s softness and elasticity.
Due to the shifting surface, players seemed to slip and they struggled to keep their balance throughout the match. They were also unable to change direction efficiently – a key component when playing AFL.
Bolton and Maxwell aren’t the first players to complain about the arena’s surface. And the way things are heading, they won’t be the last.
In 2010, Sydney signed a long-term contract with ANZ Stadium, agreeing to play three games per season at the venue until 2016.
According to club chairman, Richard Colless, the agreement was ‘one of the most important strategic decisions that has occurred since South Melbourne relocated to Sydney’. I’m not too sure if AFL players would agree with that statement right now.
Understandably, the NRL receives top priority from the stadium. It deserves it too, with two clubs in Canterbury and South Sydney currently calling it home. An NRL game occurs almost weekly there.
NRL players and officials have not made any recent complaints, with the showcase State of Origin II being played just a week ago to few concerns.
But if ANZ Stadium wants to continue to host AFL games, it needs to improve the surface. Otherwise it’ll lose customers.
By the time the Swans and Pies had completed their match on Saturday night, eight football games had been completed at the venue in 11 days.
With the majority of those being rugby league games, no wonder the surface struggled to hold up.
Surely this kind of situation is preventable. With thorough communication and some clever fixturing from all the major Australian codes, predicaments like these can be avoided.
Sydney is locked in for three games per season until 2016 and Greater Western Sydney will obviously play matches there too when it enters the competition in nine months’ time.
At the moment, the Swans and the AFL seem to be treated like second-class citizens by ANZ Stadium. Hopefully the ground’s management rectify the surface sooner rather than later.
Nathan
Guest
Totally agree with you Chris. poorly wriiten article. i know for a fact that AFL test every ground prior to fixtures. if the ground is not up to standard a breach notification will be sent out. The Giants will not be moving any of their blockbuster games to ANZ. Ben you are right coaches dont have to play on the surface, but do you think he would let his star players risk injury on a surface that was not safe. Coaches will complain if the ground is not up to AFL standard. The fact that both coaches thought the ground was up to AFL standard (apart from the pegs) probably says enough. Perhaps you could do a story on what goes into ground preparations and get both sides or just continue ANZ bashing!!!!
Liam Quinn
Roar Pro
some sections of the afl fan base seem to be stuck in "the past." the game has changed dramatically when compared to times gone by - which isn't a bad thing by the way - and saying "oh but its better than it used to be" doesn't excuse subpar conditions for todays AFL.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
If it is unsafe, the players have every right to 'whinge'. It does not matter how they compare to grounds a generation ago, players have a right to expect that their work places be safe.
Brett McKay
Guest
true Redb, but most of those 8 games being played there had little to do with expected crowd size...
Chris
Guest
When this sort of comment is written: "Complaints have since been made by several players - including Magpies’ captain Nick Maxwell - that the ground was not up to AFL standard", what does that mean exactly? Sure, some grounds are in better condition than others, but let's get real - pretty much any venue currently used for AFL football is streets ahead of the quality of all grounds a generation ago. Players need to stop whinging and just deal with different conditions as they come up. And yes, the Giants CAN use ANZ if they want to - but considering they are aiming for an average of 15,000 for their home games at the Showground (capacity 25,000), why would they?
Kasey
Guest
Uncle Bob, you are the best WUM on this site.
Redb
Roar Guru
"By the time the Swans and Pies had completed their match on Saturday night, eight football games had been completed at the venue in 11 days" At least half those games could have been played elsewhere, they draw paltry crowds for a 80K seat venue.
Redb
Roar Guru
The Swans play 3 games at Homebush and have every year for the past 5.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Oh I get it. So the AFL waits until the NRL has done its fixturing and then does its draw, so the Swans can avoid playing its so-called "Blockbuster" matches at ANZ after a period of heavy use by the rugby codes. Yeah, right! Fact is, this article wouldn't have even been written had those stakes not been found on the playing arena. As unforgivable as it is, it is still a one-off. Prior to the week leading up to the game, Sydney received a lot of rain, and as good as the drainage is, it is not conjucive to turf strengthening its roots. Players also need to take responsibility in their choice of footwear, to ensure it is appropriate for the conditions. The SCG seems to get off lightly too. Whilst the surrounding areas might be OK, the cricket square is a bog after any sort of rain. Never a peep from anyone when that happens.
Midfielder
Guest
Kasey I am no RL fan but I think you you find the average crowd for RL matches at Homebush is closer 25K [and growing each year] than 10K.. Why does RL play there because the stadium pay them to play there ... the clubs pay nothing to play there but get paid to play there.. it has to do with the way the whole thing was funded and makes its money... of the 82 K over 44K are members who pay anything from {last time I looked} $ 750 to I think over $ 2, 000. For this the members get to see all events free... thus RU, SOS, RL, Socceroos etc.... The stadium pay RL teams to play their to keep the membership base which provides a fair chunk of there income. On the surface whenever the Socceroos say the surface is crap ... somehow it does not get the same coverage as a one off AFL game..who knows why ..
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
Despite his authority, didn't mention Malthouse's comments because this article is about players' safety and the complaints from their perspective. Yes Malthouse walks out on the ground and can inspect if need be, but he doesn't play on it. And other players have complained since Saturday night. See the second par of this article - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mick-gives-ok-to-anz-stadium/story-e6frf9io-1226082534044 Yes the Showgrounds will be GWS' home ground, but it can also use neighbouring ANZ Stadium for bigger-drawing fixtures. Point is, the Giants will play there eventually too.
Kasey
Guest
Mate its not just Aussie Rules fans that dislike the Stade de Oz. I'm a football fan and I hate watching the Socceroos there (despite one of the best night's of my life occurring there in 2005!) . the active support section is situated behind the Northern goals and being so spread out and far from the pitch is not ideal to A. creating any atmosphere, and B. actually seeing the game. The Socceroos average 50k at ANZ in the last 5 years and you'd think 50k wouldn't rattle around in an 80k stadium, but I feel that unless the place is filled to capacity it is a bit of a souless venue. Its got me beat wht NRL teams think its okay to slot 10k into that arena for regular H&A games?
Chris
Guest
Pretty unblalanced article... No mention of Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse saying he had no problem with the surface. Leaving aside the issue of the metal spikes, there was not a peep from any player about the quality of the surface from the weekend. Also, the statement "Greater Western Sydney will obviously play matches there too when it enters the competition in nine months time" is incorrect. They will play next door at the redeveloped Showground. I'm surprised the Swans have a signed a contract to play out at Homebush until 2016. Unless it is purely for financial reasons (which may well be considering the way the SCG Trust gouges its tenants), it would be better to pull back to play all its games at the SCG. In recent years none of the crowds at Homebush have ever risen above the capacity of the SCG anyway. 38,000 against Collingwood meant Homebush was half empty - that number at the SCG would have rocked the house down.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
I guess the irony in all this is that ANZ stadium is majority owned by a family trust controlled by the AFL Commission Chairman, Mike Fitzpatrick.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
The word strike has been mentioned in regards to the revenue sharing agreement. Well, I think this is one situation where a strike would not simply be appropriate, but would be an action I would imagine many would support. The AFLPA needs to make it clear that unless strong action is taken, and taken soon, players will refuse to play there, regardless of contractual obligations. You write "Hopefully the ground’s management rectify the surface sooner rather than later", well that's not good enough. The players should not be obligated to play in an unsafe work place, and they need to come down hard; threaten to boycott the venue, and carry out their threat unless their concerns are treated with the respect they deserve! P.S. Is there any way to retrospectively subscribe to this article?