There are severe issues over the state of the turf at Perth’s Optus Stadium because it prepares to host two AFL video games this weekend.
Footage emerged on Friday of stadium employees relaying grass on the venue in varied sections together with one alongside the boundary line that resembled a dodgy patchwork.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports activities. New to Kayo? Begin your free trial now >
The photographs raised questions over whether or not the venue is secure to host two AFL video games this weekend and if the potential danger of accidents is greater.
Fox Footy’s Max Laughton tweeted: “Two video games right here over the subsequent two days…”, whereas sports activities reporter Mark Gottlieb mentioned: “Holy crap. That’s baaaaaaaaad.”
Fremantle hosted its first residence sport of the season final weekend and it’s unclear if any challenge prompted the turf alternative or if it was a scheduled improve to the grass.
The AFL’s normal supervisor of competitors administration Laura Kane advised SEN on Saturday the turf at Optus Stadium is as much as commonplace and prepared for the video games.
“It’s. We had our turf consultor on the market the opposite day, we’re able to go,” Kane mentioned.
“We might by no means play a sport of soccer on a floor that wasn’t secure.”
The Dockers will host North Melbourne on Saturday evening earlier than the West Coast Eagles tackle GWS within the twilight sport on Sunday.
It’s a uncommon scheduling quirk to have each Perth groups enjoying at residence in the identical spherical.
Later this yr in August, there can be an NRL double header that includes enlargement facet the Dolphins at Optus Stadium, whereas Fremantle could possibly be enjoying there on the identical weekend, as soon as the fixture is confirmed.
The powers-that-be on the AFL can be hoping the turf is as much as scratch by then.
It comes after the grass on the centre sq. on the MCG was changed simply days earlier than the AFL season opener after popstar Ed Sheeran’s live shows wreaked havoc with the turf.
