The GABBA surface during tonights match

[Crimso]

I may have heard wrongly a few weeks back,but what I heard is that footy is played on rye grass, a winter grass and cricket is played on something different, that is supposed to grow when the rye dies back. Apparently it didn't grow too well. As the weather cools the rye will come back and the surface will improve, but at the start of the season there may be a few rough patches, though not as bad as the dome has been in the past.

 

[Brishawk]

Was at the game and it looked like somone had gone and spray painted the bare patches green. Usually a great surface which has suffered with all the storms. The stadium looks very funny without the sail (roof).

 

[Jubair]

With Cricket being played, they have to make the outfield harder, the grass is also cut shorter. They have to prepare the field to suit the sport that is being played on it.

 

[damochandler]

they only have couple more games left of cricket their this year. i am sure keving mitchel junior will have cherry by round 2 i think that the lions home opener

 

[michael7]

Yes the roof was ripped off back in November I think it was when brisbane had about a month of ferocious storms. I was at the 20/20 last night and people around me were talking about the surface and someone mentioned there was a grass fungus. Just below where I was sitting the outfield was very poor with dirt patches everywhere and I don't think the Lions or any other club would be happy with the surface if it is not ready by the season proper, which it should be. They have already had trouble with the Gabba surface with Scott Harding (I think) threatening to sue the Gabba because he suffered a season ending knee injury on it when the surface was not right. Hope that clears things up a bit!!!

 

[leaper]

Yes the roof was ripped off back in November I think it was when brisbane had about a month of ferocious storms. I was at the 20/20 last night and people around me were talking about the surface and someone mentioned there was a grass fungus. Just below where I was sitting the outfield was very poor with dirt patches everywhere and I don't think the Lions or any other club would be happy with the surface if it is not ready by the season proper, which it should be. They have already had trouble with the Gabba surface with Scott Harding (I think) threatening to sue the Gabba because he suffered a season ending knee injury on it when the surface was not right. Hope that clears things up a bit!!!

The Gabba surface had nothing to do with Scott Harding's knee it was the cricket pitch area, which is an ongoing issue being the only major ground with that problem. I recall about 3 seasons back in winter there was a similar problem. It has a lot to do with too efficient drainage and the amount of rainfall received over the summer. I would be suprised if it wasn't in tip top condition by round 1.

 

[Obeanie1]

This is an AFL forum, and lets keep it that way. We may discuss the GABBA's surface when footy games start there.

Thank you for your insightfull contribution.................

This IS an AFL discussion, we are discussing if that pitch will make AFL standard.

I was at the game and did notice players when they tried to stop slipping easily and it seemed like a loose sandy surface was giving way pretty easily.

West Coasy play there in round one so they are used to playing oin sandy soil but hopefully the grass will hold it together better than the other night.

It was also very patchy, it looked like new grass patches were growing through in some boundary areas but also as if a green spray on something was used to cover up patches of dead grass.

It certainly looked sub standard IMO.

 

[blue harvest]

The Gabba surface had nothing to do with Scott Harding's knee it was the cricket pitch area, which is an ongoing issue being the only major ground with that problem. I recall about 3 seasons back in winter there was a similar problem. It has a lot to do with too efficient drainage and the amount of rainfall received over the summer. I would be suprised if it wasn't in tip top condition by round 1.

Is the pitch not considered part of the surface?
I think the SCG also leaves the cricket pitch in for footy season because they only play about 7 games there. Eventually the AFL will force these 2 grounds to get rid of the cricket pitches - but then Cricket Australia will complain because drop in pitches (eg: MCG) aren't as good as what Brisbane have now.

 

[damochandler]

Is the pitch not considered part of the surface?
I think the SCG also leaves the cricket pitch in for footy season because they only play about 7 games there. Eventually the AFL will force these 2 grounds to get rid of the cricket pitches - but then Cricket Australia will complain because drop in pitches (eg: MCG) aren't as good as what Brisbane have now.

the gabba will never change its centre wicket. the afl will never get the gabba to change it. cricket will always come first at the gabba. if that wasnt the case. they would have changed it already

 

[blue harvest]

the gabba will never change its centre wicket. the afl will never get the gabba to change it. cricket will always come first at the gabba. if that wasnt the case. they would have changed it already

I think the AFL would push for it to change if there were more serious injuries, but luckily the grass seems to grow well during winter thus making it more acceptable for AFL. I would much rather see the pitch kept - it beats the cr.p drop in one they use at the G, but they don't have a choice down here because at the first sight of rain the pitch turns into a glue pot and when it dries it's like concrete.

 

[damochandler]

I think the AFL would push for it to change if there were more serious injuries, but luckily the grass seems to grow well during winter thus making it more acceptable for AFL. I would much rather see the pitch kept - it beats the cr.p drop in one they use at the G, but they don't have a choice down here because at the first sight of rain the pitch turns into a glue pot and when it dries it's like concrete.

yeah well the afl will run into a brick wall when they try and puch the gabba to change the centre square. the mac has more games played on it anyway. the greyhound racing queensland would have more of say about the ground than the afl or the lions if they still leased the ground.

 

[Lakey91]

It looked horrible didnt it? As soon as game started i was shocked. and when the ball tried to roll along the outfield - always had a bumpy ride!

Something needs to be done ASAP before AFL gets going...

 

[SELFCONFESDAFLNERD]

It looked horrible didnt it? As soon as game started i was shocked. and when the ball tried to roll along the outfield - always had a bumpy ride!

Something needs to be done ASAP before AFL gets going...

Yeah the shots that showed the Gabba from top view were not promising at all, most of the ground was atrocious with a few scattered areas that didn't seem too bad.

Can't really remember seeing the ball bumping along the ground but it wasn't a quick outfield. I think the ground is probably stuffed from the massive amount of rain we had in September - November, not good signs for the AFL season ATM.

Fungi growth i recall the commentators saying.

 

[that_dood]

Is the pitch not considered part of the surface?
I think the SCG also leaves the cricket pitch in for footy season because they only play about 7 games there. Eventually the AFL will force these 2 grounds to get rid of the cricket pitches - but then Cricket Australia will complain because drop in pitches (eg: MCG) aren't as good as what Brisbane have now.

SCG will never remove the pitch considering it is a cricket ground where footy matches are played. the GABBA will never remove the pitch considering it is also a cricket ground where footy matches are played.

As you said they didn't have a choice at the MCG.

Shocking surface for the 20/20 up in Brisbane but hopefully it is all ready to go by round 1 but they may struggle.

 

[TigersBoy]

Im shore they'll have the grass looking its best come Round 1.

Just on the other note about surfaces. Telstra Domes is coming a long. Big random chunks in the grass still which were easly seen at Friday night Victory match. Looking greener and they are relaying the awfull parts of the ground that had no grass left.

 

[Old Den]

I think the AFL would push for it to change if there were more serious injuries, but luckily the grass seems to grow well during winter thus making it more acceptable for AFL. I would much rather see the pitch kept - it beats the cr.p drop in one they use at the G, but they don't have a choice down here because at the first sight of rain the pitch turns into a glue pot and when it dries it's like concrete.

That happens at the Gabba too but read mainly concrete as April to September are the months with significantly less rain.

 

[damochandler]

the cricketers club at the gabba couldnt give a rats about the afl to be honest. they have the power to kick the lions out of their lease of the ground. it will be right by the firstg home game. kevin mitchel jr is the best in the buisness and he knows what to do

 

[samiam]

I'd noticed that. I (and my kids) wondered why the hell anyone would design a ground with a big bite out of what looked like a roof that shold go all the way around.

Didn't even think of storm damage......thanks!

The storm was the night before the first day of the First Test. They actually spent that day removing the sunshades, which distracted from the cricket no end.

 

[Hollow Knight]

the cricketers club at the gabba couldnt give a rats about the afl to be honest. they have the power to kick the lions out of their lease of the ground. it will be right by the firstg home game. kevin mitchel jr is the best in the buisness and he knows what to do

Lets not oversell the situation.

Everyone knows the money the Lions pay is very much required.

The pitch situation at the is Gabba fairly contested and being a non-AFL state, cricket holds the cards in terms of public support (and therefore political support) but the part in bold is a pretty obscure assessment of the situation.

 

[Old Den]

the cricketers club at the gabba couldnt give a rats about the afl to be honest. they have the power to kick the lions out of their lease of the ground. it will be right by the firstg home game. kevin mitchel jr is the best in the buisness and he knows what to do[/quote}

I would have thought that their kicking out rights would have been confined to the extent of the Gabba Ground that the Cricketer's Club's lease occupies.

 

[Helix]

The Qld government would have a fair say I would reckon, given the money they paid for the redevelopment. The Lions are not going anywhere, and the Cricketer's club can't afford to lose them.

 

[damochandler]

The Qld government would have a fair say I would reckon, given the money they paid for the redevelopment. The Lions are not going anywhere, and the Cricketer's club can't afford to lose them.

ok i did oversate the power of the bricketers club. well i should have said queensland cricket. they hace alot more of a say than anyone else just about. they will have a heavy say in anything about centre wicket. there is the gabba trust as well and they dont want anything to happen to the cricket wicket

 

[CoZi36]

Just to bump up this thread.

Article in the Herald Sun for tomorrow:

AFL sends experts to inspect Gabba field

THE AFL has sent its turf consultants to work with Gabba curators after an inspection raised concerns about the patchy field.


AFL grounds manager Jill Lindsay, who inspected sandy segments of the Gabba surface last week, was concerned about its state for the first AFL game there on March 28.

"Jill has asked the AFL's turf consultants to work with the Gabba curators. They will be heavily involved," AFL spokesman Brian Walsh said.

"It's not in ideal condition, but we have a month before the game and are confident that it will be up to AFL standards before that game."

Brisbane Lions chief executive Michael Bowers said the club had been viewing the state of the cricket outfield during the summer "with interest", but had been assured the field would be of AFL standard for Brisbane's clash with West Coast.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25124297-19742,00.html

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Let's hope the Gabba is up to scratch for round 1 and that no players get injuried on the pathetic surface.