AFL Players Association concern over player injury on Etihad Stadium surface edge

The AFL Players Association plans to approach the AFL this week as the union investigates whether artificial turf surrounding Etihad Stadium’s playing surface contributed to an ankle injury sustained by Geelong forward Daniel Menzel during his side's win over North Melbourne at the ground on Saturday night.

Menzel was hurt after sliding into the fence following during the game’s second-quarter.

With Menzel having expressed his concerns to AFLPA General Manager of Player Relations Brett Murphy, the AFLPA official confirmed the union was looking at the matter.

Murphy told Fairfax Media "I've spoken to Daniel today and he's obviously very frustrated by what's occurred.

"He's certainly of the view that the synthetic turf has contributed to the injury. We will take this up with the AFL during the week."

Menzel told K-Rock after the match "it's disappointing, to be honest, because I feel like the astroturf here at Etihad Stadium has played a role in it.”

The surface at Etihad Stadium has been repeatedly criticised since the venue opened in 2000.

Brisbane Lions forward Michael Close blamed the artificial turf near the interchange gate for a serious injury last year that required a knee reconstruction after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

However, a report into the injury found that that the surface was not to blame, advising that there was “no difference within the playing characteristics of either surface within the interchange areas.”

Commenting on the report when it was released in April last year, then Etihad Stadium Chief Executive Paul Sargeant said that while Etihad Stadium management and the venue’s arena management team had great empathy for the player, the report "overwhelmingly vindicated the presentation and safety of the venue’s playing surface".

Commenting on the latest incident, acting Etihad Stadium Chief Executive Michael Green explained "Etihad Stadium synthetic turf is AFL-approved and its profile meets all AFL standards. Synthetic turf is used similarly at most major AFL stadia around Australia.”

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