Swans v Brisbane this weekend.

[Troy G]

The Swans will play a practice match against the former marsupials at Telstra Stadium on Saturday at 2pm.

[j s]

Is that official yet Troy? Or just the same expectation the SMH reported this morning?

[Mike_B]

I went looking for something official on realfooty, afl.com.au (fat chance of finding anything there except by accident at the moment), sydneyswans.com.au, but haven't found something yet.

[Glenn]

If this is the case why have a practice match at Stade de Telstra, wouldn't it be better of taking it to Newcastle or down to Manuka etc

[Mike_B]

Maybe Colless has been talking to Eddie about how to avoid travel, but this was the best he could do?

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Glenn
If this is the case why have a practice match at Stade de Telstra, wouldn't it be better of taking it to Newcastle or down to Manuka etc

I think you will find that the AFL Players union pretty much snubs out that kind of thing these days.

How come the leaguies can go out and play trials in places like Parkes yet the footy boys are considered too precious to play on bush ovals, spreading the gospel in the process. The area of playing games and promoting the sport of AFL footy in the bush is somewhere rugby league has always been miles ahead of us.

Homebush with 1000 in it will be rather stupid, you have to admit. Why not play it at the SCG? Or even Henson Park?

JF

[liz]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
Why not play it at the SCG?
JF

The SCG is almost certainly not available. The Trust seem very reluctant to let the footballers anywhere near it until the end of March, regardless of whether the NSW cricket team might be needing it again.

[DST]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
I think you will find that the AFL Players union pretty much snubs out that kind of thing these days.

How come the leaguies can go out and play trials in places like Parkes yet the footy boys are considered too precious to play on bush ovals, spreading the gospel in the process. The area of playing games and promoting the sport of AFL footy in the bush is somewhere rugby league has always been miles ahead of us.

Homebush with 1000 in it will be rather stupid, you have to admit. Why not play it at the SCG? Or even Henson Park?

JF

No way do I want our team playing on sub standard grounds.

We would be in melt down mode on this board if Hall went down to a knee injury due to shifting grass on a sub standard ground in the sticks.

The AFL have got it just right playing practice games on regular venues and some selected country venues such as Port Lincoln, Laverton etc.

In fact the AFL take ground conditions so seriously they have sent the best curator in Australia (Les Burdet) to Alice Springs to prepare the ground for their games.

Just goes to show how professional and well run the AFL is compared to Rugby League if they are prepared to risk their players on sub standard grounds.

DST

[phil casuarina]

There is nothing wrong with Newcastle No1 it has good grass plus its only 1 hour up the road & we got in for nothing last year, just showed our membership cards.

[Glenn]

Originally posted by DST


Just goes to show how professional and well run the AFL is compared to Rugby League if they are prepared to risk their players on sub standard grounds.

DST

Having just come back yesterday from one of the NRL country carnival matches (@ Parkes), I can tell you the playing surface definitely isn't sub standard, despite drought conditions.

I am sure if they wanted to the AFL could force the hands of clubs to play in small country venues (the grounds would be up to standard for a practice match), and promote the game there with coaching clinics etc

[Captain]

Originally posted by phil casuarina
There is nothing wrong with Newcastle No1 it has good grass plus its only 1 hour up the road & we got in for nothing last year, just showed our membership cards.

@@@@ you must drive fast

[DST]

Originally posted by Glenn
Having just come back yesterday from one of the NRL country carnival matches (@ Parkes), I can tell you the playing surface definitely isn't sub standard, despite drought conditions.

I am sure if they wanted to the AFL could force the hands of clubs to play in small country venues (the grounds would be up to standard for a practice match), and promote the game there with coaching clinics etc

The clubs have no say where these practice games are played. It is the AFL that sets the venues which is done to make sure that all practice games venues are of an equal standard re surface and changing facilities etc.

As for promotion in the country with games & clinics etc, that has already been done with the community camps that were held a couple of weeks ago.

These games have nothing to do with the fans (and rightly so), they are about preparing the team in the best possible way in the best possible facilities for the year ahead.

DST

[liz]

I'm actually a bit frustrated that we're at Telstra this weekend.

There are two items advertised in the Trading Post at the moment that I'm potentially interested in, but the risk of the items being in ordinary condition is too high to make it worth a long drive just to try them out.

One of the sellers is in Newcastle and the other in Lavington - probably the two country NSW venues that the club would most likely be sent. And it would be worth making the drive if I could take in some footy too.

[satchmopugdog]

Jousting sticks and a pulpit?

[liz]

You trying to tell me something Satchomo?