Field Construction and Surfacing by HG Sports Turf
Q&A with Tony Hemming, Arena Manager
In 2017, experienced Sports Turf Contractor HG Sports Turf were awarded the Design and Construction contract for the new Optus Stadium in Perth. Post construction HG were also selected to manage and maintain the new playing surface in the new jewel of the west. The field was officially opened in 2018 and is a mixture of HG’s Eclipse Stabilised Turf and HERO Hybrid Turf.
In an historic first for Western Australia, Optus Stadium was chosen to host the 2021 AFL Grand Final, the prestigious AFL Premiership event that has been held at the MCG in Victoria almost every year since 1902. Up until the Covid-19 outbreak, the AFL Grand Final had been played exclusively in Victoria, with the first hosting outside of the state being in 2020 at the Gabba in Brisbane, QLD.
Tony Hemming, Arena Manager, Optus Stadium is somewhat of a turf industry legend and is commonly known as ‘Hemmo.’
HG Sports Turf recently sat down with Tony before and after the grand final to get an insight into the preparations and challenges he and his team undertook to get the ground looking immaculate for the big day.
What was involved in the lead into the big day?
We spent the first week recovering from the heavy AFL season with the highest rainfall for 50 years, which was challenging to say the least! From there it was turf replacement, aerate, core, vertimow, divot repair, seed, fertiliser and groom the HOC (height of cut) to the height to incorporate the AFL extravaganza entertainment side of the event.
The field is ready by the Monday before and then we must manage the team’s training and rehearsals for artist and dancing crews. We also do a practice bump in of the stage with LED screens, fireworks, and lights.
On Friday there are Captains runs and then ground staff have the field for 13 hours to prepare before the curtain-raiser game. It’s a total whirlwind, but it’s totally worth it for the result.
How did the ground perform on the day and what challenges were faced?
We had a busy lead in with the 2019 Bledisloe Cup / AFL Change over into the next day with 4,000 seats on the ground. We flew the HG Turf crew in from Victoria to help and it was a great team effort.
On the day ensuring there was nothing left out on the surface from the pre-game entertainment or during half time was very important. I know the staff enjoyed being out on the ground while the players were warming up. This is one of the reasons you would choose to work in our industry, up close and personal with professionals while carrying out your job. All credit to the Frontier Group, there was nothing to pick up.
We were very happy with the performance of the surface during the two games, with pre, during and post-match commitments. On the Sunday morning the surface could have been ready for a second match, very little divoting was evident. We had full confidence in our range of HG Turf Products and our team’s professional know how to get it right on the day.
How do you find the technology helps you to produce the surface and the high standards within Optus Stadium?
We believe that it helps us in the wet and allows for faster recovery from damaged turf by major events, the fact that we only just replaced the centre circle for the AFL grand final (a 27-game season and training) is testament to that.
What achievement or contribution are you most proud of and what’s the best moment you experienced?
The entire month of September was a great achievement with just 21 days’ notice to prepare for the Grand Final. After the final siren, all our staff drove out onto the ground in an AFL Toyota vehicle for the presentations, it was a surreal atmosphere!
What were the main differences between the AFL Grand Final and other large-scale events you’ve managed and what was learnt in the process?
Usually, we have six to twelve months to plan for major events, so the turnaround was very short. We now have a check list ready for the unlikely next one, but it will be nice to enjoy the next Grand Final when it returns to Melbourne. I love the history of the game and the “G”, it’s hard to beat a 100,000 crowd at the MCG.
What does preparing the field mean to you and your team and where does it rank in your career in terms of preparing for major sports events?
We aim for the highest technical standards for each event. If it’s Rugby, we want to be Eden Park, Cricket – Lords and Soccer – Wembley. The AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium is in my top ten events and I’m sure my staff will say it’s their number one day to remember.
