Richmond v Brisbane: Metricon Stadium surface showing signs of wear in footy festival
The Metricon Stadium surface is showing signs of wear and tear as it continues to take a heavy load. Plus, yet another hamstring victim and is Richmond’s Tom Lynch in MRP trouble?
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THE playing surface at Metricon Stadium is starting to show significant wear and tear as the ground continues to take a heavy workload during the AFL’s condensed season.
The venue is hosting an unprecedented number of games this season, with most of the competition based in Queensland.
Metricon Stadium on Tuesday night hosted its fifth game in seven days between Richmond and Brisbane and is also set to host games on Thursday and Friday this week.
The broadcast side wing is of particular concern, becoming increasingly patchy.
Metricon surface starting to show signs of struggling under the added workload. Few more weeks and its gonna look like Colonial Stadium.
— Red Crow (@redcrow_28) August 4, 2020
However, Fox Footy boundary rider Ben Dixon told News Corp earlier this week that he felt the ground was holding up incredibly well after inspecting it closely on Sunday.
“I walked out and had a really good look (on Sunday),” Dixon said.
“The shade on the broadcast grandstand side comes over at about 3.30pm and that’s when games are often played up here, in the twilight. So most traffic is going to come when it’s not in the full sun and that’s going to cop the brunt of it.
“But I think it’s holding up extremely well. Whoever the groundskeeper is, I think they’re doing an amazing job.
“I think it’s holding up as well as any ground I’ve seen.”
ANOTHER HAMSTRING
Hamstring injuries are becoming all too common as the AFL’s condensed season continues to bite, with Brisbane’s Cameron Rayner the latest victim.
Rayner left the ground late in the second quarter and did not return, taking a seat on the bench with a tracksuit on at the start of the second half.
The Lions had been playing off a four-day break since a 63-point romp off Essendon on Friday night.
Rayner has played every game this season and had kicked nine goals as well as averaging 11.1 disposals entering the clash with the Tigers.
LYNCH IN TROUBLE?
Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch could find himself fined after forcefully pushing an opponent’s head into the ground late in the opening quarter.
Lynch laid a tackle on Brisbane’s Alex Witherden and took him to ground before pushing Witherden’s head into the ground with his right hand as he picked himself back up.
Lynch had started the game strongly, booting two of Richmond’s three goals in the opening quarter.
Will Tom Lynch draw any scrutiny for this moment?
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 4, 2020
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Originally published as Richmond v Brisbane: Metricon Stadium surface showing signs of wear in footy festival