MCC CEO Stuart Fox says he’s been bemused by ongoing commentary surrounding the MCG’s surface, hitting back at criticism that the ground wouldn't be fit to host games in Round 1.
Two Ed Sheeran concerts meant over 10,000 square metres of the ground needed to be replaced a little over a week out from Round 1.
Former North Melbourne star David King was among the biggest names questioning the ‘G’s fitness to host four Round 1 games given the the sizeable redevelopment.
“I am concerned about the MCG surface. A repair job that started less than two weeks ago, it’s a massive race against the clock,” he told SEN’s Whateley earlier this week.
“So they run the risk… it’s a big risk to take, isn’t it? I’m fearing that on Friday morning we’ll be talking about a shifting surface… just those seams, they do cause problems, and I know no one wants to talk about this stuff ahead of time but there’s only one percentage when you’re providing a safe workplace like this and that’s 100 per cent.”
But Fox brushed off any questioning as uneducated, suggesting there was no possibility of injuries to players.
“We had years to plan for it,” Fox told SEN’s Sportsday on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s actually impossible to move that turf, it's huge. That was grown six months ago, moved in on trucks and you physically cannot move it by hand, it’s all done by hydraulic equipment.
“I’m really, really pleased. We finished Saturday night and our turf team have been working really hard just finessing (the ground) now.
“When you look out now, there’s not a blade of grass out of place.”
Fox admitted that King’s comments caused the MCC “a bit of grief”, but said the public will see no evidence that over 200,000 attended the venue less than a fortnight ago.
“Kingy seems to think they we just rock up to Bunnings on a Saturday morning and grab a couple of rolls of turf like the public do, but it’s very, very different,” Fox laughed.
“I’ve been fascinated with the commentary on it. We didn’t have any doubts but everyone else did.
“I’ve seen media commentators walk into the stadium this week and they’ve been shocked because there is no sight of their being any damage or there being a concert here.
“I think the public, when they come in tonight and turn their TVs on they’ll be shocked, it looks like a very normal MCG tonight.”
Fox added he believed the crowd tonight would go “awfully close” to 90,000, with up to 180,000 to stream into the famous ground over the next two nights.