Concrete and the Clay

[Pekay]

More proof that your soft - anyway the only dangerous thing near you growing up was a boomerang thrower and the snakes your brother trys stepping on on the way back from the INN.

This list is endless. Any luck with that bus company?

[tara]

This list is endless. Any luck with that bus company?

Yeah a mate put me onto the company that transports the NSW and Queensland Origin teams and Manly so we get a luxury coach we can relax on with a beer or thousand at a very reasonable price.

[Rafters]

im not @@@@ stirring but have a honest question. why were the finals played at Bruce Purser last week and not Blacktown? seems unfair to Penno to have to play a semi at ECE home ground?

As I understand it there were junior finals played there on Saturday ... but the Sunday matches were at Blacktown & not BP, so no home ground advantage to ECE in PL.

[Coastal Boy]

CB you are 100% correct. BP is the worst ground in Sydney AFL.

BP cost 8m to construct (well done Oscar an incredible result single handily from your hard work) It is built on a hill, the shed face the wrong way for the crowd, (the sheds are are exactly the same as Picken), the ground has a slop either side bigger the perisher, its not protected from any elements at any part of the ground, (by Christ it must be hot in summer in the field), the centre sq is lucky to hold a bucket of water, (how much rain did fall on Friday night???), they planted the wrong grass & CB all this for 8mill WTF?
Make no mistake if it was watered though the week it was done to bring the ruckman of Wests undone! It has an atmosphere like the pm at a swingers party at PK's pit.

BTW - CB did you happen to see the board member of EC in the U18's game go of his nut? Surely he will be suspended over his outrageous behavior wont he?? But then again not as they are the best run club in Sydney? Pity they dont follow the code of conduct.

I missed the 18s game. Doormat, many of your points are extremely valid but at the end of the day I think most clubs would gladly have a quality ground like BP as their home turf(except for Saturday!!!!). Building a ground cost a bomb but maintaining it is even worse. Grounds like BP and BOP and any other recently developed ground can only be judged after 5 or 10 years. Grounds like the SCG spend millions per year on their surface alone so it is unrealistic to expect any SFL ground to even partially compete there. I would guess unless $100K is spent on the ground each year it will steadily decline.

I stand corrected Floppinab. I thought when games at Picken were forgotten about this year and with all the rain about a month ago that the Wests boys kept training where ever they were earlier in the year.

Tara, I understand your financial logic behind sharing the ground with cricket but a few AFL-only ground would be nice. Sometimes a new ground comes with other issues like the council. I remember having an old Kingswood and the boys used to cram in and pizza and beer was regularly tipped all over the back seat, when I bought a shiny new car the boys were happy until they found out it was food free and they soon wanted the old bomb back. Unless the pitch area is handled perfectly it is always too hard or too muddy. Players never know what boots to get out of the bag - long sprigs and then you roll your ankle in the centre or grass cats and you slip in the out field. At Rosedale, are MS prevented from training on the ground till a set time in the pre season and when does cricket take it back? Also, is the council more protective of the ground in wet weather to protect the pitch area???

[tara]

CB, yes the council can be protective but we have an arrangement in place where the ground can stay open should the committe put a bond down.
The wicket are of Rosedale in generally excellent regardless of the rain, however I was a bit boggy in the centre for one game but the umpires had the sense to move to the sides of the wicket - given that the ground is larger than all but Monarch its 178x150 there is plenty room to move and avoid the centre. That being said the council last year laid turf over the wicket before our season and it was if there was no wicket, this year due to time constaints two of the eight wickets didnt get that treatment so that area was the only problem.

As far as cricket is concerned we work well with them and they allow us to train throughout summer in runners, this preseason however we trained at Kelso an Kokoda ovals until March so we had posts and could wear boots. We have the oval from
1 March until 30 April however if the outgoing team is in finals there is a one month extension which almost always applies to cricket and has for us 3 of the past four years. As far as boots are concerned Rosedales surface is excellent and moulded boots or grass cats/blades are they only things you would consider. It is very firm under foot but not hard like Blacktown so unless you want shin splints you dont wear screw ins.

[shinerunner]

they planted the wrong grass & CB all this for 8mill WTF?
Make no mistake if it was watered though the week it was done to bring the ruckman of Wests undone! It has an atmosphere like the pm at a swingers party at PK's pit.

doormat surely you should know its the right grass being a landscaper and all, couch oversown with a winter perennial rye grass.thats exactley the correct grass for a football surface. look at wat all major sporting facilities over the world use.

[Coastal Boy]

Thanks for your reply Tara and congrats. Your set up with the cricket seems very friendly and works for both sports.

......the council last year laid turf over the wicket before our season and it was if there was no wicket.

Sounds like something that should be considered at other cricket/afl fields......maybe BP and BOP.

[tara]

Have to say the criticism of BP seems pretty harsh after looking at the ground last night - it was in superb condition all over - loved seeing a ground like you see on TV with the two shades of green running in lines from wing to wing.

[Junior]

I agree Tara. Here's a photo that got sent to me the other day. It's the final round ofDivision 1 in the EFL in Melbourne. Vermont v South Croydon. See attachment

[The Purse]

BP surely worse than that haha

I agree Tara. Here's a photo that got sent to me the other day. It's the final round ofDivision 1 in the EFL in Melbourne. Vermont v South Croydon. See attachment

[Rafters]

I think all arguments end after seeing that pic!

[Doormat]

R u for real rafters. Clearly grounds in Melb are in a bad state just like BP was 2 weeks ago.
BTW your not another one who is an EC patsy r u ? I know you have made decisions, in favour of them in the past haven't you??

PK sent me an email earlier stating that EC are so confident tomorrow (they dont rate UNI) they have pre printed Back to back premiership T-Shirts & hats! They will give them away after the game tomorrow.

Bet all you peanuts will be lining up for the freebies

I think all arguments end after seeing that pic!

[Oscar]

Just thought that readers might like to see Bruce Purser Reserve as it is today (Friday) before the start of two matches in the Northern States Cup for U/14 High school kids from NSW, Qld, ACT and NT.

[Norris Lurker]

I agree Tara. Here's a photo that got sent to me the other day. It's the final round ofDivision 1 in the EFL in Melbourne. Vermont v South Croydon. See attachment

And yet the council kept the ground open. If only ours would......

2006 grand final at Henson was a shocker. I remember seeing a pic from the Black Diamond grand final that day in Newcastle which was even worse.

[tara]

It shows the differnce between where AFL is at in Syd and Melb - Syd people may be precious about their grounds but take a look at that photo and it reminds me of two things, footy as a kid and Norm Provan and Arthur Summons "the gladiators" - sport and footy in particular should be played in all conditions. Great to see as you said a ground kept open should be more of it.