Just on playing surfaces and stadium rebuilds, I really wish the SCG Trust would come out and shut down this disgraceful whinging about the SCG surface.
All the soccer, RL and RU numpties moaning in the media are just giving the AFL ammunition to pressure the SCG into creating another lifeless, sluggish surface that will kill any cricket matches played there. They already have issues with the pitch needing to be rejuvenated, the last thing they need is a placid drop-in and an outfield slower than custard like the MCG has to churn out thanks to the AFL.
People need to realise it is a cricket ground. Even without being cut for cricket, the grass is sparser and shorter than a surface built for winter sports. The surface doesn't need to be prepared for heavy stud traffic, it needs to be prepared so that a cricket ball can physically reach the boundary. That means a different surface. You'd struggle to hit a four along the ground to the side boundaries at a rugby ground FFS. It also means a more delicate surface which therefore needs a less dense base for faster drainage. It works ok for AFL because they only play like ten games a year there, but it's not built for this much traffic.
Simply put, it's not designed for regular soccer, RL, or RU anymore and nor should it be. It is a CRICKET ground.
But they won't say anything, because that would mean admitting they bit off more than they could chew by holding Allianz residents to their contracts using the SCG instead. I just hope this doesn't make the cave to the AFL for PR reasons.
