CAFL matches won’t be played at Traeger Park until after AFL match
CAFL clubs have expressed their frustrations after it was revealed they won’t be able to play at their main oval at Traeger Park until June. Find out why here.
Northern Territory
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Central Australian Football League clubs are not happy with ajoint AFLNT and Alice Springs Council decision to keep Traeger Park game free until after the June 2 Melbourne-Fremantle Round 12 clash in the Red Centre.
Federal president Gerrard Coffey said the non-use of the oval by the league’s member clubs had not gone down well.
“I reckon most of the people in Alice Springs, certainly the ones that play footy, would rather give up the AFL game,’’ he said.
Coffey said an inspection of the ground by AFLNT officials this week had deemed the playing surface was not up to AFL standard and that considerable time was needed to rejuvenate the turf on the ground.
The decision was jointly made by AFLNT and the Alice Springs Town Council after a routine check up on the oval to ensure it was in the best condition ahead of the AFL match.
AFLNT general manager Sam Gibson confirmed Traeger Park wouldn’t be used for CAFL purposes until after the AFL match.
“The decision by AFLNT and the Alice Springs Town Council was made following a routine check made by an expert in the lead up to the AFL game scheduled for June 2,” he said.
“With this year’s AFL game scheduled one month earlier than in 2023, the decision was made to ensure the oval was in the best condition possible for the AFL game.
“Historically football isn’t scheduled on the oval for three to four weeks leading into the game to ensure the oval is pristine.
“While it is disappointing that this period will be extended slightly in 2024, it is important that the oval is of the highest standard for the AFL game.”
In 2023, Rounds 7 and 8 were moved away from Traeger Park in preparation for the AFL match.
It means the first seven rounds of the 2024 season that kicks off on Saturday, will be played at Albrecht and Jim McConville Ovals instead of Alice Springs’ jewel in the Territory crown that is Traeger Park.
The first match at the ground won’t come until June 15, after a two-week bye for the competition.
“All of a sudden Traeger Park becomes a sacred cow where no one is allowed to go near it at all because of the AFL coming to town for what is one game of footy,’’ Coffey said.
“Now we’ve got five men’s sides, six women’s sides and a whole bunch of junior teams that can’t use the ground for seven weeks.’’
Coffey said the original plan to play the first three matches of the 2024 season had been discarded in favour of a blanket CAFL ban until the AFL game was completed.
But he did concede the playing surface needed some serious work done on it before the cold winter months set in.
“It’s not just a lack of water I’m talking about, the grandstand wing has got patches on it that are just brown,’’ Coffey said.
“So if it has been mowed too low or got burnt, they still should be able to get it back because it’s not cold enough yet and the grass will still grow.
“But if they don’t get their sh-- together real soon the cold nights will come in when the grass just doesn’t grow anymore.’’
The 2024 CAFL season proper kicks off on Saturday, with a 4pm clash between last season’s preliminary finalists Souths and Pioneer at Albrecht Oval.
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Originally published as CAFL matches won’t be played at Traeger Park until after AFL match
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