I'm only bringing this up because I'm sick of talking about Melbourne, but can we all please now accept that curtain raiser games will not and should not return.

After a few soccer games and the State of Origin rugby league game in June I've not seen the MCG look so bad since before the Commonwealth Games.

Edited July 26, 201510 yr by Clint Bizkit

Fair to say that if Melbourne Football Club were a pitch, it would be the MCG's in its current form.

Sorry.

How about we leave football grounds for football, and play soccer and rugby elsewhere? Football pays the MCG's bills, and it is football that suffers the consequences of other codes destroying the surface.

This is the worst time of the year for heavy use of the ground. The grass barely grows in this cold weather and cannot repair itself quickly. Plus the wet conditions make the problem worse by ensuring everything gets churned up.

Edited July 27, 201510 yr by america de cali

they cut the grass shorter for soccer, or so i heard

but still the soccer teams complained about the surface. i read of the complaints but not the specifics. anyone know?

they cut the grass shorter for soccer, or so i heard

but still the soccer teams complained about the surface. i read of the complaints but not the specifics. anyone know?

Real Madrid manager said it was a shame that such a great stadium in a great city had such a bad pitch.

Real Madrid manager said it was a shame that such a great stadium in a great city had such a bad pitch.

Well it's not a soccer pitch, it's a football/cricket ground. And it's the best cricket ground in the world.

So next time if they're not happy, they can play soccer elsewhere.

Real Madrid manager said it was a shame that such a great stadium in a great city had such a bad pitch.

yes, but do you know the reasons? just curious

yes, but do you know the reasons? just curious

I heard on radio last week that soccer require cut grass to 10mm and aussie rules to 20mm. The 10mm gives the soccer ball a truer bounce and it 'skids' over the surface. The guy calling in (a sports ground curator) said 10mm is never going to happen on a field used for aussie rules.

I heard on radio last week that soccer require cut grass to 10mm and aussie rules to 20mm. The 10mm gives the soccer ball a truer bounce and it 'skids' over the surface. The guy calling in (a sports ground curator) said 10mm is never going to happen on a field used for aussie rules.

thanks. so what did the mcc do? they probably cut it to 15mm as a compromise and made it bad for both - lol

for those who said the mcg was in bad shape, could they elaborate? i didn't notice any obvious stuff except for some faint line markings left from the soccer

It would be like playing a game of football on the Flemington straight!

The MCG has an amazing system for optimising grass growth and draining away excess water. The sandy soil is only about half a meter deep before there are elaborate drainage mats and pipes and heaters to promote grass growth. Under that there is the concrete of the car parks, etc. Soil moisture content can be controlled because it's so shallow. They also have heat lamps running all over the grass in winter and in summer where shaded by the member's stand. Over use is the problem moreso than cold weather or rain, and the patching up of worn turf with new can lead to inconsistancy in the surface.

Well it's not a soccer pitch, it's a football/cricket ground. And it's the best cricket ground in the world.

So next time if they're not happy, they can play soccer elsewhere.

They usually do.

The MCG has an amazing system for optimising grass growth and draining away excess water. The sandy soil is only about half a meter deep before there are elaborate drainage mats and pipes and heaters to promote grass growth. Under that there is the concrete of the car parks, etc. Soil moisture content can be controlled because it's so shallow. They also have heat lamps running all over the grass in winter and in summer where shaded by the member's stand. Over use is the problem moreso than cold weather or rain, and the patching up of worn turf with new can lead to inconsistancy in the surface.

Good post. People underestimate how difficult it is to grow grass in winter in what is essentially a big gorge or valley where sunlight is extremely uneven.

Good post. People underestimate how difficult it is to grow grass in winter in what is essentially a big gorge or valley where sunlight is extremely uneven.

I also heard somewhere that the drainage at the MCG is so good they can remove 2" of heavy rain within only about 30 mins.

I also heard somewhere that the drainage at the MCG is so good they can remove 2" of heavy rain within only about 30 mins.

I had an ex that could do that.

apparently players from last nights dawks vs toiges complained about mcg surface

flanks and wings mainly. centre ok because turf replaced after soccer

they cut the grass shorter for soccer, or so i heard

but still the soccer teams complained about the surface. i read of the complaints but not the specifics. anyone know?

typical divers, always complaining, instead of getting on with the job.

send em' to coventry, my dear DC !

I heard on radio last week that soccer require cut grass to 10mm and aussie rules to 20mm. The 10mm gives the soccer ball a truer bounce and it 'skids' over the surface. The guy calling in (a sports ground curator) said 10mm is never going to happen on a field used for aussie rules.

good

Real Madrid manager said it was a shame that such a great stadium in a great city had such a bad pitch.

sod off manager

Well it's not a soccer pitch, it's a football/cricket ground. And it's the best cricket ground in the world.

So next time if they're not happy, they can play soccer elsewhere.

exactly

The MCG has an amazing system for optimising grass growth and draining away excess water. The sandy soil is only about half a meter deep before there are elaborate drainage mats and pipes and heaters to promote grass growth. Under that there is the concrete of the car parks, etc. Soil moisture content can be controlled because it's so shallow. They also have heat lamps running all over the grass in winter and in summer where shaded by the member's stand. Over use is the problem moreso than cold weather or rain, and the patching up of worn turf with new can lead to inconsistancy in the surface.

yep