Independent turf consultant gives MCG turf green light for round 2

Despite some concerns from players in an AFLPA survey, the MCG has had its new turf assessed and ticked off once again. See the players’ verdict.

Parts of the MCG turf will be replaced ahead of the AFL round 1. Tractors and workmen busy ripping up and replacing the MCG turf. Picture: David Caird

The MCC will march ahead with Thursday’s Geelong-Carlton game after its independent turf consultant ticked off the ground for use on Monday morning.

Carlton star Sam Docherty and Geelong coach Chris Scott were both strongly critical of the turf, which will see Cats defender Tom Stewart out for a month after slipping on the grass.

AFLPA general manager of stakeholder relations Brett Murphy said there had been mixed feedback from players after all eight clubs who used the ground on the weekend were canvassed by the player union.

“We spoke to the AFL ahead of Thursday night’s opening match about the state of the ground and were assured it had passed all checks,” he said.

“We have spoken to players from the eight competing teams from the weekend to understand any concerns about the surface. The feedback we received was varied, with some players noting that sections of the ground were slippery and inconsistent from other parts of the ground.

A slip from Stewart gave the star defender a knee injury. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“We have provided this feedback to the AFL, who have committed to providing us with the report from this week’s inspection. We understand steps will be taken to continue to improve the condition and consistency of the ground.”

Docherty said he was worried about playing after two previous knee reconstructions and was not surprised Stewart went down the next night.

Now both the Blues and Cats will return to the venue, which was given an extremely positive rating by the independent consultant last Wednesday.

He returned to the ground on Monday and gave another positive assessment, which will ensure the Blues-Cats and Collingwood-Port Adelaide games go ahead on Thursday and Saturday.

An MCC spokesperson said the turf would continue to be monitored but the games would go ahead with the normal preparation.

The hope will be that with another week of growing there is less difference between the hard, slippery newly relaid turf and the more established, softer turf.

The MCC hosts 45 AFL games and finals every season so regularly relays turf as part of its ongoing grass management program.

The MCG turf being replaced before the opening round. Picture: David Caird

The MCC announced an Ed Sheeran concert for March 2 as far back as March 2022 _ with a second concert then added for March 3 _ with the AFL only bringing the season forward last December because of the round 5 Gather Round.

As revealed by the Herald Sun last year, it meant Perth Stadium was unable to host a round 1 game because of its Sheeran concert.

That concert was on March 12.

This weekend’s upcoming AFL games at Perth Stadium are a Saturday night Fremantle-North Melbourne game and a Sunday game between West Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

BLUES STAR REVEALS MCG TURF UNEASE AS CATS PONDER STEWART LOSS

Carlton star Sam Docherty has hit out at the quality of the MCG turf following Tom Stewart’s medial ligament injury that could put him out for a month.

Docherty said he was surprised players were not injured in Carlton’s Thursday night draw given the “significant” difference between the “slippery” newly relaid turf and the established grass.

He revealed he had serious reservations about the joins in the old and new turf given his history includes a pair of ACL tears.

The following night brilliant Cats defender Stewart slipped on the surface as he mistimed a spoil on Collingwood forward Beau McCreery and had to be subbed out.

The Cats believe he had a medium-grade medial ligament injury that could put him out for three or four weeks as they await a more precise return to play timeline.

But Docherty said he had expected injuries on the ground, which had to rush a turf revamp from the Ed Sheeran concerts after the AFL’s Gather Round brought forward the season by a week.

Parts of the MCG turf were replaced ahead of the AFL round 1. Tractors and workmen busy ripping up and replacing the MCG turf. Picture: David Caird

“Having been a person who has done a couple of ACLS I was extremely nervous when I walked out there pre-game and saw the differences in the turf. Stuff that has been there for a while and then the newly relaid stuff. I was surprised there weren’t any injuries in our game and watching last night was probably what I expected to happen,” he told 3AW.

“There is a fairly significant difference between the two turfs. The newly relaid stuff was quite hard but did move when you went over it, the grass spat up a bit, and then the old MCG turf they put so much water trying to get the new grass to sit in, that was really soft.

“So it definitely presented some level of risk in my eyes and the MCG took that punt. They would have known what they were doing by taking the MCG contest.”

The Cats have multiple options to rejig their backline in the wake of Stewart’s absence, with Mark Blicavs going into defence in the second quarter of their loss when Sam De Koning pulled up sore.

De Koning played through injury on a dirty night for the premiers. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jake Kolodjashnij is still in the concussion protocol after a hit in the club’s pre-season loss to Brisbane, while it is understood Jack Henry will miss eight to ten more weeks after his foot surgery.

Off-season recruit Jack Bowes will be available for senior selection in round 2 against Carlton after playing a half in the VFL on Saturday.

He had completed a massive pre-season but pulled up tight leading into round 1 so was not considered for senior selection.

De Koning returned to the ground with his knee strapped after he appeared to flare a pre-existing injury while Tom Hawkins played out the game despite strapping on his calf.

‘OWN GOAL’: SCOTT SAYS MCG COMPROMISED TURF WITH CONCERTS

– Chris Cavanagh

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the MCG kicked an “own goal” by hosting two Ed Sheeran concerts on the eve of round 1 after two of his players suffered knee injuries on the newly-laid turf.

Players from both Geelong and Collingwood struggled to keep their feet throughout Friday night’s match, particularly in some areas of the ground.

Cats key defender Tom Stewart was subbed out of the match at quarter-time after hurting his right knee when he slipped on the surface, while fellow key defender Sam De Koning also had his right knee strapped and sat out most of the second quarter after slipping over while walking backwards.

Chris Scott has labelled the turf issues an ‘own goal’ for the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

Scott was initially hesitant to criticise the surface when the issue was put to him post-game.

“I think it’s an interesting discussion for others to have,” Scott said.

“I think it’s distasteful when the coach of the losing team talks about the surface. But it’s worthy of a discussion.”

Asked what the feedback from the players had been, Scott opened up further.

“I’m relaying this,” Scott said.

“The issue is that there are differences on the ground now – some bits that are really firm and you can keep your feet and other bits that are really soft and you can’t keep your feet.

“It’s not a criticism. It’s not my area. But it’s been a long time since the Grand Final. It’s the biggest game in the land and it's the best ground in the world, in my view. So to compromise the surface is a strange decision to make voluntarily. If stuff happens and the weather’s beyond your control, fair enough. But it was an own goal, I reckon.”

Sam De Koning with his right knee strapped. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Stewart with his knee in a brace post-match. Picture: Getty Images

Some 10,000 square metres of turf at the MCG – roughly half of the ground – was replaced in the 13 days leading up to round 1 after being damaged by two Ed Sheeran concerts earlier this month.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said on Tuesday that the surface was looking “absolutely magnificent” and he was “very, very happy” with it, dismissing earlier concerns.

Scott said he would be “surprised” if Stewart played next week as a result of his injury but the Cats “don’t think it’s a really long-termer”.

De Koning played out the second half after his injury – which was similar to one he recently did at training – and is expected to be fit to face Carlton next Thursday night.

Geelong small forward Tyson Stengle also played on after being caught up in a heavy mid-air collision with Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe.

Stengle passed concussion protocols after the incident, with impact coming mostly to his shoulder.

MCC SAYS SURFACE ‘IN EXCELLENT CONDITION’

– Jay Clark

The MCC has allayed any concerns over the new turf at the MCG, saying the ground will be in pristine condition for the season-opener.

North Melbourne great David King sparked fears over the safety for players at the ground on Tuesday after the Herald Sun revealed a massive $1 million repair job last week to fix the turf after two Ed Sheeran concerts.

The MCG replaced 10,000 square metres of new turf or roughly half the ground to deliver a world-class surface for the Richmond versus Carlton blockbuster clash on Thursday night.

King said “whoever ticks off on the viability and the safety of the surface has got a big job”, saying he was “concerned” about player safety and in particular the seams where the rolls of new turf joined.

“I’m concerned. Thirteen days isn’t enough (to lay a new surface),” King told the Herald Sun.

“I don’t want someone’s season to end because of a couple of Ed Sheeran concerts.”

However, MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said the ground had come up perfectly after an around-the-clock repair job following two record-breaking Sheeran concerts which drew almost 215,000 fans across two nights.

The MCC says the ground will be ready for the season opener. Picture: David Caird

Fox said staff had thoroughly assessed the surface for any safety concerns and were certain it was fit to play on Thursday night for the Blues-Tigers blockbuster.

There are three other MCG blockbusters this weekend which could deliver a record-breaking Round 1 attendance including Geelong-Collingwood, Melbourne-Western Bulldogs, and Hawthorn-Essendon.

Fox said the ground staff were entirely comfortable with the new turf.

“It is virtually impossible to shift or move the new turf which has been laid because of the weight of the sod and the size of the pieces of new turf which have been laid,” Fox said.

“The staff have been working around the clock since last Saturday and to their credit the surface is in excellent condition because it is something which has been more than two years in the making.

“It is part of normal MCG turf maintenance between rounds of footy to replace patches of the arena as the turf is worn down due to traffic or weather.

“And from what I saw last week to what I saw when I walked in this morning, it looks absolutely magnificent, so we are very, very happy as things sit.”

Fox said the MCG could have done with more time to prepare the surface but was happy with its condition ahead of the blockbuster round 1 games which could attract more than 300,000 fans across the four MCG games this weekend.

The addition of the new ‘Gather Round’ in Adelaide in round 5 reduced the MCC’s preparation time by one week when the AFL fixture was released late last year.

MCC CEO Stuart Fox says the ground staff are comfortable with how the surface is. Picture: David Caird

The Sheeran concerts were locked in before the release of the fixture.

“It did get a little tight. Maybe that extra week with the Gather Round would have been nice but the turf guys are really happy with the outcome,” Fox said.

“Let’s bring on the footy.”

Fox said staff had been rolling the turf almost non-stop since Saturday to help compress the ground.

More than 137 trucks were used to assist the set up and pack down of the Sheeran concert production equipment which impacted the grass which has since been replaced.

Originally published as Independent turf consultant gives MCG turf green light for round 2