Work is never ending for the venue to ensure the ground is kept in top condition, particularly with so much traffic on the surface each week. As well as the Carlton training sessions, the Melbourne Storm also train at Visy Park and Carlton’s VFL affiliate team, Northern Bullants, also use Visy Park for training and practice matches. Add a number of AFL NAB Challenge matches during February and March and Visy Park has certainly had plenty of action to start 2009.
Ground improvements have been undertaken by the curator to ensure the surface remains in the best condition for the season. Operations Manager, Martin Shannon said this work was an important part of the total maintenance of the ground.
“The work carried out today involves top dressing the surface with a mixture of sand and soil as well as fertilizing and seeding. Vertidraining has been completed this morning. This involves cutting spike holes through the profile of the ground to open the surface up and assist the draining.”
The surface is a real asset for Carlton and with the scheduled completion of the new elite training facility later this year, the Carlton players will no doubt enjoy the best all-round training facilities.
