Rigorous AFL turf test

It might come as a surprise that Etihad Stadium’s perimeter synthetic turf has been installed for eleven years.

The surface came under fire when Daniel Menzel rolled his ankle on the fake turf in Geelong’s win over North Melbourne last Saturday night.

The synthetic grass comes from an international company which provides the product to elite sporting grounds all over the world. Acting Etihad Stadium CEO Michael Green told Sports Today the AFL’s safety measures around it are clearly the most rigorous.

‘The AFL put in place an extremely rigorous testing and licencing program for this sort of product,’ Green said.

‘They’ve (international company) certainly indicated to us the AFL’s testing levels and safety rigor was far and away the toughest that they’ve had to go through anywhere in the world.’

Etihad Stadium plays host to three AFL matches this weekend and the grass will remain installed.

Daniel Menzel had scans on his ankle earlier this week, but has been named for Geelong’s clash against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Click PLAY to hear Michael Green on Sports Today