SCG curator ‘caught by surprise’ but denies wider issues at Venues NSW grounds

Venues NSW has defended its turf management practices amid heavy criticism of the surface at the SCG and the high possibility that Allianz Stadium will be torn up in the coming weeks due to drainage issues, which could impact the end of the NRL season and the start of the A-League.

Adam Lewis, the head curator for Venues NSW, admits he was “caught by surprise” on Friday night as players from both the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs struggled to keep their footing at the SCG’s Paddington end, which has struggled to recover from an Andrea Bocelli concert on April 3.

Bailey Williams struggles to keep his feet at the SCG. Credit: Channel Seven

The sight of players constantly slipping over led to Swans chairman Andrew Pridham describing the state of the surface as “unacceptable” and the AFL sending not only a formal please explain to Venues NSW, but also their own turf expert Bruce Macphee to Sydney on Tuesday to perform further testing.

Despite fears from Dockers coach Justin Longmuir that the slippery ground appeared to put player safety at risk, and a chorus of condemnation from key AFL figures, Lewis said there was “no chance” that Sunday’s clash between them and the Swans would be moved.

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