The Scarecrow
18 Sep 2003, 20:20
Source: Ther Mercury
By JAMES BRESNEHAN
NORTH Hobart's build-up to the SFL Premier League grand final could be thrown into chaos, with a rain-sodden North Hobart Oval being shut down by the Hobart City Council yesterday.
The HCC confirmed it had closed the grand final venue as a result of the heavy pounding it had taken over the past five days.
North Hobart Oval hosted five games last weekend -- two Old Scholars Association grand finals on Saturday and three SFL Premier League preliminary finals on Sunday.
It was then saturated by the wild spring weather that Tasmania has experienced this week.
North Hobart was to have trained there last night, but was forced to make alternative arrangements when the HCC inspected the venue and subsequently closed it.
The HCC will inspect the ground again this morning.
If closed again -- to give it every chance of being in top nick for the grand final -- the Demons will have a broken build-up to the most important day of the year.
North trained at Richmond last night, and may be forced to train away from home again tonight.
On the other hand, Hobart does not care one way or the other.
``We won't be having a run at North Hobart this week -- it would be different if we hadn't played there on Sunday,'' said Hobart coach Michael McGregor.
``At the end of the day, most of our blokes have played a lot of footy there and it looks like the council won't let anyone on there until Saturday anyway.''
By JAMES BRESNEHAN
NORTH Hobart's build-up to the SFL Premier League grand final could be thrown into chaos, with a rain-sodden North Hobart Oval being shut down by the Hobart City Council yesterday.
The HCC confirmed it had closed the grand final venue as a result of the heavy pounding it had taken over the past five days.
North Hobart Oval hosted five games last weekend -- two Old Scholars Association grand finals on Saturday and three SFL Premier League preliminary finals on Sunday.
It was then saturated by the wild spring weather that Tasmania has experienced this week.
North Hobart was to have trained there last night, but was forced to make alternative arrangements when the HCC inspected the venue and subsequently closed it.
The HCC will inspect the ground again this morning.
If closed again -- to give it every chance of being in top nick for the grand final -- the Demons will have a broken build-up to the most important day of the year.
North trained at Richmond last night, and may be forced to train away from home again tonight.
On the other hand, Hobart does not care one way or the other.
``We won't be having a run at North Hobart this week -- it would be different if we hadn't played there on Sunday,'' said Hobart coach Michael McGregor.
``At the end of the day, most of our blokes have played a lot of footy there and it looks like the council won't let anyone on there until Saturday anyway.''