Swans to Examine ANZ Concerns
BY FRANK IENCO
THE Sydney Swans will send representatives this week to examine their controversial second home base, ANZ Stadium, ahead of this Sunday’s match against Essendon at the venue.
It will be the first match played at the ground since Swans spearhead Barry Hall broke his wrist after crashing into an advertising hoarding in the round 4 win over the West Coast Eagles.
Padding will now be added to the temporary fencing and signage, which is specially used for AFL matches as some seats are rolled back to allow for the extra field space.
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reports NRL clubs have also raised concerns over the stadium’s surface, with two rugby league matches and an AFL reserves game taking place within 24 hours of the Swans and the Bombers taking the field.
But Swans coach Paul Roos believes the stadium will be fine for Sunday’s match and says the club usually checks on the condition of the ground.
“We usually send somebody out to look at it,” Roos said.
“(Swans football manager) Andrew Ireland will probably do that this week but we’re confident things will work out,” he said. ”They (ANZ Stadium) usually prepare it pretty well for us.”
