Jimmy Bartel slams Etihad Stadium’s artificial turf as ‘like concrete’

UPDATE: AFL players have demanded a ‘better solution’ be found to replace artificial tuf at Etihad Stadium as Jimmy Bartel slams the surface.

Daniel Menzel rolled his ankle on the artificial turf. Picture: Michael Klein

GEELONG star Jimmy Bartel has slammed the artificial turf that surrounds Etihad Stadium, saying it is “like concrete”.

Bartel, a board member of the AFL Players’ Association, said the issue has been addressed with the association and players won’t be accepting things as they are.

He said having to wait for someone to get hurt — as his teammate Daniel Menzel did on the weekend — just isn’t on.

“I don’t think players should have to put up with it,” he said on SEN.

“I think in today’s age we can find something like a better alternative that has a little bit more give in it than that style of Astroturf.

“It is like concrete and if people saw how Dan Menzel hurt his ankle — he just slid across the top of it like when you’re running in footy boots on concrete.

“I think we can find a better alternative that makes it safer and very usable for all the machinery.”

Daniel Menzel slips on the artificial turf at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night. Picture: Michael Klein

The Players Association issued a statement on Thursday saying it had asked every club for feedback on the fake grass and had raised concerns with the AFL “with a view to finding a better solution”.

“Players have expressed concerns regarding the proximity of the synthetic turf to the playing surface, which makes it more difficult to slow down and/or change direction, potentially contributing to injuries such as that suffered by Daniel Menzel,” the statement said.

“The players also feel that the synthetic turf is harder and more abrasive than natural turf, leading to more painful injuries when landing or sliding.”

Menzel suffered ligament damage in his ankle in last Saturday night’s win over North Melbourne, while Brisbane youngster Michael Close required a knee reconstruction last season after he was caught where the artificial turf meets the natural turf.

Bartel said players don’t want the issue rearing its head every time someone is injured.

“It seems to be an issue whenever someone gets hurt and we don’t want that to be the case — just waiting for someone to get hurt to fix the problems,” he said.

But North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie defended the synthetic surface.

“Any time you run over the boundary line, you’ve got to pull up before you hit the fence,” Petrie yesterday told AFL Tonight.

“I think in years gone by, that strip of turf gets a lot of foot traffic and gets trampled on a lot. It turns into rolled mud.

“It’s probably safer they use astroturf, because if that was rolled mud that he slipped on he would have gone into the fence.

“It’s a better surface for us to try and slow down in, given it can be rolled mud when that part of the ground gets walked on by so many different people.

“The astroturf is a good idea. You’d hate to see anyone get injured too significantly by it, but we understand as players why it’s used on the outside of grounds.”