Magazine - Demetriou Backs Sophisticated Data

By Editor in A.F.L on 20th May 2010 14:30

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has labelled complaints from leading coaches about the hardness of the surface at the Gabba and Etihad Stadium as "complete baloney".

AFL coaches Mark Thompson, Mark Williams and Mick Malthouse say the hardness of playing surfaces is more of a factor in hamstring injuries suffered by players than rapid interchanging of players on and off the ground. But Demetriou refuted the comments, saying official data showed that the Gabba was not too hard and "that Etihad stadium's surface is contributing to hamstring injuries, that's complete baloney, complete nonsense."

"We've got data, we're not going on hearsay and the latest comment from someone who thinks that they've got a gut feel.

"I wish people would rely on data that's been collected that's sophisticated data that's got the medical support behind it over a number of years.

"Because if there are trends that are showing that the surface is contributing, then we would do something about it.

"But the fact is that there's nothing, there's nothing in any of the data to show that these surfaces are linking to injuries, or that the Gabba is too hard or that Etihad Stadium is too hard."

Cats football chief Neil Balme yesterday described the Gabba as being good for cricket, not football. "We've got the softest ground in the competition by far because we have control in how much water goes on and what we do with the ground and our boys all play pretty regularly", said Geelong coach Mark Thompson this morning. "I reckon just soften the grounds up and slow the game down and I think there will be less injuries."

The hardness of Etihad Stadium is clearly not "baloney" to Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade. "It certainly is hard. The Gabba is hard as well. I'd hate to be Brisbane playing at the Gabba all the time. When we played up there we were all pretty sore from it. "We've got four weeks now in a row at Etihad … so put it this way we've spoken about it internally and how we need to manage the players."

And Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams suggested that AFL grounds be watered before matches, as occurs in the English Premier League, in order to soften surfaces.

Source & More: www.theage.com.au

Read more articles in A.F.L, by Editor or from May 2010.