No mud in surface issue

By Paul Pickering
CASEY Scorpions general manager Brian Woodman insists the club is not panicking about the boggy state of its Casey Fields surface.
Woodman last week admitted that the main oval was facing its sternest test during the VFL club’s tenancy as questions continue to be asked about the quality of the ground’s drainage.
The Scorpions’ last two home games have been marred by the muddy condition of the ground, evoking memories of the unsightly scraps of a bygone footy era.
The surface, also used as a training venue for the Melbourne Football Club, has become such a concern that the TAC Cup clash that was to be played at the venue on Saturday was relocated at the request of the Scorpions management in consultation with the City of Casey.
The volume of traffic on the ground has previously caused friction between the council and co-tenants Casey and Cranbourne Football Club, but Woodman is confident that the ground can accommodate both clubs.
“The amount of traffic is not the issue, but unfortunately it’s the first thing everyone starts screaming about” he said.
“The last three or four years we’ve had ourselves and Cranbourne playing on the ground and there’s been no problems.”
Woodman said he was satisfied with council’s assessment that it was untimely downfalls, rather than poor drainage that had ravaged the council’s sporting showpiece.
“The information that we have is that the ground is draining correctly and it’s just the amount of rain we’ve had,” he said.
“The last two times we’ve played (at home) we’ve had horrendous rain, both during and before the game.”
Casey’s next home game is on Saturday, 3 July against Werribee, but Cranbourne will play its home matches on the ground this weekend.
Woodman remains confident that the surface will come good.
“If we don’t get rain on match days I think everyone will be surprised with how quickly our ground bounces back,” he said.