Dome still not up to scratch
24 August 2005 Herald Sun
Mark Stevens
Exclusive: THE Telstra Dome surface is under renewed fire, with the AFL's players delivering an overwhelming thumbs down.
Of the 529 players questioned in a Herald Sun-AFL Players' Association survey, 80.9 per cent ranked the turf either "sometimes unsuitable" or "mostly unsuitable" for AFL football.
Only 15.3 per cent gave the surface a tick for being generally suitable and 3.6 per cent dubbed it fantastic.
In other survey findings:
THE players have backed the new tribunal system.
MATTHEW Lloyd has been judged the most reliable set-shot kick for goal.
UMPIRES are still the most favoured people to vote on the Brownlow Medal.
AFLPA president Peter Bell said the players' opinions of the surface had sagged this season.
"Generally speaking, you'd say that players are less happy with the surface," Bell said.
"The various stakeholders are doing what they can, but obviously there's still a fair way to go before it's an acceptable playing field and surface."
Asked if the time would come when the players made a stand, Bell replied: "That may happen."
"I hope this doesn't happen, but perhaps there will be a serious injury that is a result of the surface."
Telstra Dome took another hit in the favourite ground stakes.
Only 6.3 per cent of players named Telstra Dome as their favourite venue overall, down from 16.3 per cent last year.
The MCG has widened the gap in the popularity stakes, lifting its preferred ground rating from 43.8 per cent to 59.6 per cent.
Telstra Dome officials yesterday declined to comment on the results of the survey.
The players have no issue with the facilities at the Dome, but the turf is an issue which won't go away.
AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale said the problems at the ground were obvious.
"There's concerns with the playability of the surface ... I don't think it's rocket science," Gale said.
"We will keep registering our concerns when we don't think it's up to scratch.
"We've insisted they do look for long-term solutions."
The AFLPA said it found comfort in a recent meeting with Telstra Dome chiefs to discuss long-term solutions.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has expressed surprise at the high negative percentage, but backed the surface.
"We're on public record as saying the ground is absolutely safe for football," Demetriou said. "We stand by that. We wouldn't send anyone out into an unsafe workplace.
"There are mechanisms in place to check and sign off on the suitability of the ground through inspections and the like.
"I'm surprised by the percentage," Demetriou said.
"I know the venue is always looking to improve the surface.
"Overall, up until the laying of new grass about four weeks ago when there was this perceived excess slipping, I think the ground has played very, very well."
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