AFLW players forced to use Victoria Park surface criticised for dog faeces and safety hazards
Concerns raised after training and match at Collingwood’s Victoria Park over dog droppings, exposed mesh and substandard changerooms
A group of AFL Women’s players were left to train and play on a Victoria Park surface that contained dog faeces and other safety hazards ahead of Collingwood’s AFLW match against Sydney, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Club officials and players raised multiple concerns about the condition of the ground after a safety issue with the turf was noticed on Saturday, when pieces of mesh were allegedly sticking out of the goal square. The mesh was reportedly identified before the match and later removed by ground staff.
The Daily Mail report said Sydney Swans players were forced to train on the oval while dog walkers used the ground on Friday, and that line-markers had been applied over dog faeces in places. Dogs are permitted to run on the Victoria Park playing surface when it is not being used for sporting activities.
Greater Western Sydney and other clubs have expressed concerns about the playing surface at the venue, with one issue noted in the report being sand that had been painted green to give the appearance of grass. Several AFLW players have also criticised the venue’s changerooms and other facilities as substandard for professional athletes.
Collingwood has told media it plans a significant investment to upgrade the Victoria Park surface in the coming months. The planned works were cited as a response to ongoing worries about player safety and the suitability of the venue for elite matches.
The revelations follow earlier complaints about AFLW facilities. In 2022, players raised issues at Sydney’s Henson Park that included reports of cockroaches in changerooms and generally poor amenities; that ground subsequently received a major upgrade. At the time, an AFLW club insider told reporters, “You can't put young women, let alone elite athletes, in places like that — it was just terrible,” and other club sources described the facilities as "awful."
AFLW clubs and players have more broadly campaigned in recent years for improved scheduling, facilities and playing surfaces as the competition has expanded. League officials have overseen upgrades at several grounds, but the Victoria Park complaints underline the uneven standards that remain across some metropolitan venues.
The issues at Victoria Park prompted immediate remediation on the day of the match when the mesh was removed and other surface problems were addressed. Collingwood’s announced investment aims to prevent similar problems ahead of future fixtures, though details and a timetable for the works have not been fully disclosed.
The incident adds to ongoing discussions about venue management, community use of sporting ovals and the responsibilities of clubs and local councils to ensure safe, professional-standard conditions for elite women’s football matches.