ANZ Stadium: pegs on playing surface 'unacceptable'

Management at Sydney's ANZ Stadium have acknowledged that a number of u-shaped pegs were recovered from the field during the first quarter of last Saturday night's Sydney Swans versus Collingwood AFL game.

In the second AFL game staged at the ANZ Stadium this season, several Sydney players had to pick up pegs during the first quarter of the six-point loss to Collingwood.

In a statement the venue operators acknowledged they failed to meet basic safety standards. The statement read that " investigation has revealed the pegs were those used to secure 'growth mats' to the turf in the days leading up to an event.

"While it is standard procedure to remove all pegs and check the entire playing surface is free of such objects, clearly in this instance a number of pegs were not recovered, which is completely unacceptable.

"The stadium acknowledges that it has a fundamental obligation to provide a safe playing environment and on this occasion the stadium failed to meet that standard."

The statement concluded that the Stadium "has reviewed its turf management procedures to ensure the necessary steps will be taken in future to prevent a repeat of this incident."

The incident follows the Sydney Swans having complained about the condition of the playing surface, after their first game there this season, against Essendon in round two.

Prior to ackkoweldging that the pegs had been left on the field, the Stadium's General Manager of Assets and Technical Services, Simon Davies, explained "there are a number of pins used when attaching grow mats to the playing surface.

"The mats promote grass growth in preparation for an event.

"All pins are removed prior to any field activity and stringent procedures are undertaken in the lead up to any event to ensure the entire playing surface is free of objects and ready for play."