Synthetic turf

[Garts]

Dont really know enough about the product to comment but no harm in looking into it.

 

[firechild]

Certainly worth looking at, not just for Brookie.

Surely if we were to go down the synthetic turf path, the prime candidates would be the high traffic multi use stadiums with a history of surface issues. SFS, ANZ Stadium, Suncorp and Etihad. All these grounds have suffered chronic issues maintaining their surface and despite the fixes it still seems to raise its head at least once or twice a year at each of them. The suburban grounds should be the last places that need to move away from grass.

If Warringah council want to pay for it why should they have to wait until larger stadia get the same changes?

 

[Dresden Dan]

Is that why NFL players wear long pants? Most have short sleeves though.

 

[Doga]

Coincidently I watched this video a few days back as AC Milan is having this installed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VNiArKmJ10

 

[Eric Galt]

I am worried that Matai could get injured playing on synthetic turf.

 

[WayneBennett]

No turf on the wicket, i dont play cricket

 

[Perth Red]

Since when has having a grass pitch menat only one game a week can be played on it? Better drainage, turf and groundskeeping can see 4-5 games a week played on a decent pitch.

I've played on full artifical turf, it is not fun! But I presume they are talking a mixed grass plastic pitch like Widnes have?

 

[Honkiest_Honky]

If cows don't eat it then players shouldn't play on it... John Madden Football 95 or 96

 

[firechild]

Since when has having a grass pitch menat only one game a week can be played on it? Better drainage, turf and groundskeeping can see 4-5 games a week played on a decent pitch.

I've played on full artifical turf, it is not fun! But I presume they are talking a mixed grass plastic pitch like Widnes have?

Since when has 15 hours a week been even close to just 1 game?

The point you are missing is that better drainage and better groundskeeping will increase costs. Putting in a synthetic field will drastically reduce costs.

 

[Packy]

No. f**k that. Maintain your grass you cheap merkins.

 

[Danish]

Having clocked a fair bit of time playing soccer on the synthetic pitches they have at Endeavour now I most certainly wouldn't want to be tackled on the stuff. Any slide or fall at speed results in a fair amount of cuts and scrapes.

They use a FIFA-grade pitch as well so its not like it was just a poor choice of surface.

A switch to this surface would undoubtedly result in players wearing knee and elbow protection of some sort to save their skin.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

More amazing journalism from T-Rex Ritchie and the DT.

Maybe they don't consider the Super League a "top flight" RL comp.

 

[Karl]

Oh FFS guys it's been in SL all year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmGFQPR-guo

I assume it's the 4G pitch you're on about? That's the best developed so far as far as I know.

Have a look at the run of play from 1.17 and ask yourself if it looks like a hotly disputed SOO try from a recent game...

1.19 - decoy runners 23 and 21 impeding defenders with runner behind them, 1.21, decoy runner no 12 impeding with 27 behind him. All happens again in the run of play after that.

 

[Fire]

I watched the videos people linked earlier in the thread. The game looked "faster" somehow. It's hard to explain but it just looked "faster". Did anyone else notice this???

 

[Raider_69]

the added bonus would be that perhaps with grounds using synthetic turf that can accomidate more action, maybe we can return to the days of 3 grades of footy played at the venue.

 

[IanG]

Well why don't we just go play Gridiron FFS!!

 

[Fire]

the added bonus would be that perhaps with grounds using synthetic turf that can accomidate more action, maybe we can return to the days of 3 grades of footy played at the venue.

Sorry to be a downer bit it wouldn't happen. It is now a "national" competition as opposed to a NSWRL competition. The logistics of transporting/flying three teams all over Australia and New Zealand would be too expensive for clubs.

There may be a slight chance of three games occurring in NSW (i.e., NYC, NSW Cup and NRL), but three games wouldn't happen before every NRL game.

 

[Johns Magic]

I've played footy on an artificial pitch when on a tour in Hong Kong. I don't seem to remember any issues other than the bounce of the ball. I was playing fullback that night and it's hard to describe how the bounce was...there was something a bit trampoline-like about it.

 

[DC_fan]

While I have never played sport on artificial turf I have walked, run around and fallen over on a quality NFL stadium surface.

What I noticed most about it was just how hard it felt. Not sure I would want to be tackled or dumped on my head on the surface

 

[GAZF]

Turf toe will be the injury in vogue if this happens.