AFL 2025: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge speaks about ‘unusual’ SCG surface

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge expects the condition of the slippery Sydney Cricket Ground to worsen before improving.

The surface, particularly at the Paddington end, was under the microscope during the Bulldogs’ season-shaping win over the Swans last Friday.

The SCG recently hosted a concert but was also the subject of a complaint from Port Adelaide earlier in the season.

The league was unimpressed with the state of the surface and has sent “Grass God” Bruce Macphee to assist in urgent repairs.

Beveridge downplayed the significance of the slippery surface, saying both teams play on the same field, but thinks the impending weather will only degrade its condition.

“It was unusual but the level playing side of it, both teams are still playing on the same surface,” he said.

“Obviously, the spectacle of last week’s game didn’t seem to be affected too much, it was still a pretty high quality game as far as the scoring went for a period of time.

“But you see that massive rain belt coming down the eastern seaboard of Australia and what’s going to happen to the SCG. I don’t think it would matter what type surface it would be, I think it’s going to be extremely slippery.

“This week is one where I think it’s sort of taken out of everyone’s hands because it’s Mother Nature.”

The fear of injury has prompted conjecture as to whether the Swans should host finals aspirant Fremantle this weekend.

The AFL has spoken to Fremantle and the AFL Players’ Association about the risk of injury and a potential change of venue but remains confident the SCG will be fit for play.

Beveridge believes a slippery surface typically heightens the risk of soft-tissue injuries over joint damage.

He says the Bulldogs have moved on from the surface, insisting they’re “not in the business of complaining too much”.

“Our players aren’t really talking about, it’s obviously been identified that the end the concert was at that the surface down there was really shifty,” he said.

“That’s where the majority of the falls happened, but I don’t think it would have mattered whether we won, lost or drew, we would’ve just moved on.

“We’re not in the business of complaining too much about things that both teams had to contend with.

“I think for the future, whoever is in charge of ground management up there will want to improve on it, that’s a given, isn’t it? It’s definitely not a priority to me anymore.”

The Bulldogs have a chance to consolidate their position inside the top eight by beating North Melbourne at the MCG this Thursday night.