Unley Oval

[brucetiki]

The situation in relation to Unley Oval is now beyond a joke. This ground is not just plain muddy, it's a health hazard to the players. This is definately an OH + S issue, especially with the dog crap in the mud. How can the SANFL be allowing footballers to be playing in that!

I'm also sick and tired of hearing the weather excuse for the condition that ground is in. No other SANFL ground, and probably most Amateur grounds, is in such a condition and they all have had similar weather to deal with.

The 'it's used as a public oval during the week' is also no excuse because I believe the same applies to Prospect Oval now, and Prospect isn't like that!

It is simply neglect by the Sturt Football Club and the Unley Council. Lift ya game the pair of yas.

If the ground had improved since the last game, I'd hate to have seen it then.

I say that, effective immediately, no games are to be played at Unley Oval until the ground is fixed properly and an assurance by both the Sturt Football Club and the Unley Council that the ground will not be neglected like this again!

What does everyone else think.

[Unley Legend]

Is Unley Oval in terrible shape? Yes, although Saturday I did expect it to be worse than what it was, the way people were going on about it.
Is it any worse than other grounds have been at times in recent years? No. Last year I think it was, Port v Centrals at Elizabeth, the ground was practically under water, and just about every year at Prospect, the whole centre square is a bog, just not many North games are on TV lately. Norwood has improved over recent years, Richmond is better (on and off the ground) than what it was 20 years ago, and even Glenelg is better.
I would lay blame squarely on the council's shoulders, I mean, let's face it, they don't do much. Sturt apparently haven't been training there for a few weeks now. I have no problem with games being moved, but let's be consistent about it.

[RoosterWedgie]

UL, if you want to compare Unley to Prospect just have a look at the 2 photos in the Advertiser in the SANFL part of the Footy liftout, chalk and cheese.

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,370977,00.jpg

V

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,370965,00.jpg

[brucetiki]

Unley is also the only ground to be a bog widespread, not just the cricket areas. Elizabeth has improved greatly this year, and Noarlunga held up extremely well the other week despite the downpour in the second half of the South v Centrals game.

The oval has been neglected, and it needs to be fixed before someone does a serious injury on it.

[Columbo]

I was surprised how good Prospect looked on Saturday, centre had a bit of water on the edges early but sun dried that pretty quickly. Heard someome say that the pitch area was covered overnight which probably helped.
Just a pity the result wasnt a little better!!

[Unley Legend]

Is Unley Oval in terrible shape? Yes

Is it any worse than other grounds have been at times in recent years? No.

and just about every year at Prospect, the whole centre square is a bog,

I have no problem with games being moved, but let's be consistent about it.

Firstly read the post, I've quoted my own post again to make it easy for you. You'll notice I said "recent years", not "last Saturday".
Good photos of bog (this year) at Prospect here
http://aquarius.addaction.net/~wedgie/NAFC/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1241

and here

http://aquarius.addaction.net/~wedgie/NAFC/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1054

[RoosterWedgie]

Still chalk and cheese looking at those pics, not sure of your point. You'll notice the banner we created was spotless in your second link, if it was at Unley Oval we would have needed buoys. (as opposed to boys). I honestly cant remember any of Prospect Oval being underwater or having the inconsistency in the ground as Unley currently does.

If Unley couldn't dry out after last Thursday like all other SANFL grounds did then its beyond repair for 2004. It was about 17 degrees sunny and a very strong Northerly hence why Prospect looked so good on Saturday.

Comparing previous years to Unley this year is irrelevent as the main problems at Unley this year have occurred where some hoon got on the oval and did donuts prior to the South game. No other ovals to my knowledge have fences down that can let cars into do that.

I don't know why Sturt supporters defend it, its not the Sturt FC's fault, its the Unley Council's fault, all reports are that last week Sturt seemed to run out of legs in the last quarter which wouldn't suprise me giving the amount of games they've been slogging through that swill. I'd be up in arms complaining if I was a Sturt footballer, supporters or administrator. For their premiership chances to improve this year they'd be better off moving games but unfortunately they cant afford to with their current financial situation.

A case of $$$ before possibe flag Im afraid. Im assuming the way Sticks is squealing about everything but the ground that he's been told this is the case too.

[DaMan]

The reason prospect was good was because they covered the pitch and also the seniors didnt train on it on tuesdays nights for the past 2 weeks.

[RoosterWedgie]

The reason prospect was good was because they covered the pitch and also the seniors didnt train on it on tuesdays nights for the past 2 weeks.
Sturt have been training at the Max Basheer reserve for 3 weeks, certainly hasn't helped Unley!

[Roobunny]

There's no question that Unley Oval was in shocking condition on Saturday...at one stage James Gowans (or maybe it was Chris...thanks to the bozo who decided to stand in front of me sitting down my vision was obscured) got stuck in the mud in the middle of one play!

What bothered me more than the mud/bog though was how chopped up the ground was...

That said I'll be at Unley this weekend again (last week as a Dogs supporter - this week as a Rooster fan's girlfriend) and I assume due to the lack of rain the ground will be much firmer.

[Roobunny]

But in answer to the question - yes - move them to Adelaide Oval :) In fact move all games to Adelaide Oval! :D

[Sniper26]

Yes

[rubberman]

The problems at Unley oval started when some corksuckers got onto the oval in their cars and tore it to bits. When the rain came the ground had no chance.