Former players slam shifting surface at Marvel Stadium

It’s only the opening round of the season, but the Marvel Stadium surface is already under fire with big divots being dug up by players.

Divots in the Marvel Stadium surface in front of the interchange bench. Picture: Michael Klein.

The Marvel Stadium surface has been slammed as “atrocious” after large divots were dug up during round one and faces AFL scrutiny this week.

As St Kilda coach Alan Richardson renewed calls for the stadium roof to be closed for matches, the surface near the interchange area on the wing looked like a patchy mess after it was churned up by players losing their footing.

Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Suckling was a victim of the shifting turf when he rolled his ankle as the surface moved underneath him during the first quarter against Sydney on Saturday night.

Players were also caught out during Sunday’s clash between St Kilda and the Gold Coast Suns. At one stage an emergency umpire was on the field trying to pat down the grass after Suns defender Sam Collins dug up a huge chunk of turf in a diving tackle.

Even Thor would injure himself on this Marvel Stadium surface. It is atrocious and border line not safe to play on #replacethedivots

— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) March 24, 2019

The surface came under fire from commentators, with Fox Footy’s Cameron Mooney describing it as “atrocious” and former Suns and Hawthorn player Campbell Brown questioning if it was safe to play on.

Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes said on SEN radio: “This is going to be a big story during the week. You just can’t have this surface in this day and age.”

The AFL will assess the affected area of turf in front of the interchange bench this week but it is understood to have passed all testing in the lead-up to the weekend’s games.

The threshold of how well the grass has “knitted” is tested and was given the all-clear. Only the area in front of the bench on the centre wing appeared to be affected.

Gold Coast’s Peter Wright jogs past the interchange bench at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Michael Klein.

As of Sunday afternoon, there had been no complaints from the Western Bulldogs or Sydney.

The roof was left open on Sunday, but the affected area received no sunlight.

Richardson said he was unsure if the players slipping over was solely due to the surface, but said if it was it needed to be addressed.

“The whole round, there has been a lot of mistakes from everyone, there has been a lot of slipping over,’’ Richardson said.

“Certainly the game that was here, the Bulldogs game was the same, there was a lot of slipping over.

“I’m not sure if that’s the surface or whether that’s blokes getting used to it again. Not sure.

“If it is the surface that is responsible for blokes slipping over then of course it needs to be fixed, it will end up leading to injury.”

A close-up view of the damaged turf at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Michael Klein.

Richardson, however, was clear on his wish for the roof to be close for matches for the benefit of the players — rather than viewers.

“We have the roof open for the fans that are here because it is very challenging for the fans that are home, it’s hard to go from dark to light,” Richardson said.

“Our players would prefer the roof to be closed, is that going to have an impact on the surface? I’m no the expert there.

“I’m a bit selfish, I will always go for the players ... that’s for people that get paid more than me to make those calls.”

Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew said he was not aware of any issues with the turf until it was raised with him after the match.

Essendon tackles St Kilda at Marvel Stadium next Saturday and North Melbourne play the Brisbane Lions at the ground on Sunday.

The playing surface at @marvelstadiumau is anything but a marvel. Looks like something you’d run out on in div 6 of local footy. #shocking #AFLSaintsSuns

— Xavier Wagner (@SauceWagner_23) March 24, 2019

The Marvel Stadium surface is looking very similar to the fairways after I’ve played a sub-par round of golf 🏌️‍♀️ #AFLSaintsSuns

— Kavisha Di Pietro (@kavishadipietro) March 24, 2019