Swans chairman Andrew Pridham says clash with Freo will ‘100 per cent’ be played at the SCG despite turf fears
Concerts at the SCG could be a thing of the past as Swans chairman Andrew Pridham rubbished suggestions that the Sydney-Fremantle game on Sunday could have been relocated.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has called on Venues NSW to prioritise an elite AFL playing surface at the SCG for the ground’s main tenant, while also shutting down rumours that Sunday’s match between Sydney and Fremantle could have been moved due to issues with the turf.
The SCG playing surface has been the subject of discussion throughout the week following last Friday’s match between the Swans and Western Bulldogs, where players were regularly slipping on the grass at the Paddington End.
It was the culmination of a prolonged three-month issue with the turf at the ground since the SCG hosted an Andrea Bocelli concert in early April. The event was also the first concert at the SCG since U2 played at the venue in 2019.
Grass was replanted where the stage for Bocelli had been placed; however, it has not grown as strongly as the ground staff would have liked.
Despite concerns in other Swans matches this season – including for the Sydney Derby where GWS captain Toby Greene admitted to wearing metal studs to try and gain more traction – the conditions during the Bulldogs clash were the worst it had been all year.
Venues NSW immediately addressed the issue on Saturday morning by creating a plan to get the ground ready for the Dockers match. The AFL also sent its ‘Grass God’, Bruce Macphee, to Sydney to inspect the surface, with the venue already getting the tick of approval this week to host the Sunday afternoon game.
And although the Swans and Pridham are frustrated that there was any suggestion the game could have been moved, they have called on a commitment from Venues NSW that could squash any plans of concerts being held at the ground in the future.
“The game is 100 per cent being played at the SCG,” Pridham said. “I think (moving the game) was one of those mystical football rumours that had no substance, it never did.
“Essentially, we’re the sole winter tenant, so as I’ve said, it was very disappointing. We’ve made that known to Venues NSW, and to their credit, they’ve been very proactive.
“More people come to watch our home games than watch any other sport or team in NSW. What we ask for and expect is very simple. An elite playing surface available for the Swans to train and play on as per our hiring agreement. Nothing more, nothing less.
“How Venues NSW prepare the turf or use the oval when we are not using it is their business. However, if anything they do or do not do detracts from the provision of an elite surface, it is unacceptable.”
Both the Swans and the AFL are satisfied with the work that has been carried out by Venues NSW throughout the week to get the ground ready for Sunday’s clash against Fremantle. That has included turf grow lights being placed across impacted areas at the Paddington End, as well as coring sections of the ground to allow the grass to aerate and grow.
There has also been no foot traffic on the ground, with the Swans taking their training sessions to Tramway Oval for the week.
Despite outrage from players, coaches and commentators last week about the state of the turf, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said it was “never a safety issue”.
“We’re really confident about it, and tomorrow (Friday) our turf expert will look over it again,” Dillon said.
Dillon also advised players to wear longer stops to handle the conditions, but not to follow in the footsteps of Greene and wear metal studs. The league has since had a crackdown on players’ boots.
There are four more Swans games at the SCG before the ground turns its attention to the summer of cricket and a potential series-deciding Ashes Test match against England in January.
And while Pridham has been satisfied with the response from Venues NSW so far, he believes it’s just the beginning of a wider conversation about the ground, which should include the potential of moving to drop-in wickets to ensure it “keeps pace” with other stadiums in the country.
“At the end of the season, I’m sure we’ll sit down in a more formal setting and have a discussion about what our expectations are,” Pridham said.
“I think they would acknowledge this, they shouldn’t do anything, whether it’s a concert or whatever it may be, which jeopardises delivering an elite surface. It’s as simple as that.
“We’re on the record with the view that there should be a drop-in wicket and there can be a drop-in wicket, it’s only a matter of, in my opinion, investment and just doing it, and it should be done, it should have been done many years ago.
“The reality is that the SCG is an iconic sporting arena in Australia’s premier city, and it needs to keep pace with other venues. Whether it’s the MCG, Adelaide Oval, Optus or the new Brisbane Stadium, that’s going to require a lot of investment.
“One of those pieces of investment is a drop-in wicket because, post the demolition of the Gabba, I think the SCG will essentially be the only major stadium in Australia that has a turf wicket. Cricketers are on the record as being supportive of a drop-in wicket.
“I’ll be at the front of the queue supporting Venues NSW on any plans to redevelop the stadium in terms of the stands, the facilities and also the turf.”
Originally published as Swans chairman Andrew Pridham says clash with Freo will ‘100 per cent’ be played at the SCG despite turf fears
The Hawk that’s ‘a pleasure to watch’ for Nathan Buckley
There’s a few things younger players can learn from this gun Hawk. Plus, which Bomber is set to fire when the penny drops? See Nathan Buckley’s full Super Saturday preview here.
Cox responds to potential Daniher return rumours
While Joe Daniher enjoys the European high life, both his former and rumoured future coaches have spoken out about reports linking him to a potential AFL return.