Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson has taken aim at the Sydney Cricket Ground’s surface, calling it a “disgrace” after several players lost their footing in Friday night’s AFL clash between Sydney and Carlton.
Despite the Swans running out 16-point winners after trailing at every break, Johnson’s focus was firmly on the turf, which he believes contributed to players struggling for balance throughout the match.
“This ground is a disgrace,” Johnson said during the broadcast.
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“This turf is an absolute disgrace. How can Isaac Heeney break 50 and just put his foot down to plant and slip over?”
Rainfall and double-headers raise questions
Sydney recorded 19.8mm of rain on Friday, the highest single-day total in the city all month, but the SCG has previously proven capable of handling far heavier downpours. In 2020, it hosted the BBL09 Final despite 180mm of rain in the lead-up.
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A VFL curtain-raiser between Sydney and Carlton reserves teams earlier in the day may have further degraded the pitch, raising concerns over how double-headers affect surface quality.
The criticism follows hot on the heels of backlash around the Allianz Stadium pitch during Thursday night’s Women’s State of Origin match, where large, muddy patches drew similar complaints.
Both venues are operated by Venues NSW.