AFL repairs Marvel Stadium turf for R2

The AFL Players Association says players watching Marvel Stadium on television have raised more concerns than those at the ground for round one matches.

AFL

The Marvel Stadium surface continues to be criticised. (AAP)

The AFL will replace sections of turf at Marvel Stadium labelled "atrocious" after the opening weekend of football.

The AFL Players Association has revealed the worst parts of the potholed pitch will be torn up ahead of matches on Saturday and Sunday, with pitch inspections to come.

The ground appeared dangerous to play on over the weekend, when players from Western Bulldogs, Sydney, Gold Coast and St Kilda had trouble keeping their feet.

In Sunday's match, won by St Kilda, players appeared to check their movements when running along the worst-affected area in front of the benches.

Bulldogs defender Matt Suckling and Suns captain David Swallow suffered injuries while on the poor surface.

Both clubs have denied it was linked to the turf, however, AFL legend Jimmy Bartel said the ground had been responsible for serious injuries in the past.

"This has been going on since the stadium was built," Bartel told Macquarie Sports Radio.

"Nothing ever happens (to change the surface), they don't care about it.

"There's been issues where the fake turf goes so close to the ground there's been players do their ACL on it."

ALFPA player relations boss Brett Murphy said he'd fielded calls from players about the surface at the Docklands venue.

Curiously, clubs that had played at the venue were reluctant to criticise the ground.

"It was largely players from other clubs who saw the game on TV ... I was concerned watching it on TV. Generally the players and the clubs who were there were okay," Murphy said.

"I wouldn't say it's unsafe.

"There are parts which certainly were not up to scratch.

"The AFL will tear up pieces of the ground and replace it either tomorrow or Wednesday. We will inspect it afterwards."

Murphy said feedback received on the quality of the rest of the normally rock-hard Marvel Stadium surface was that it had improved on previous years.

But there's no question the troublesome area was a major embarrassment to the AFL, which owns the ground.

There's also a major question over the state of the SCG surface ahead of its first game of the season on Friday night.

Phillips said the AFLPA would attend Wednesday's ground inspection in light of the round one Marvel Stadium debacle.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said parts of the Marvel Stadium surface deteriorated over the weekend.

He added turf on the western side of the ground would be replaced and the league would liaise with the players association to ensure the surface is safe and appropriate for AFL games.


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Source: AAP


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