Oval makes Pies mudlarks
The Denmark-Walpole Football Club is unsure where it will play the remainder of their home games this season after heavy rainfall and poor drainage have caused McLean Oval to become an unsafe playing surface.
The club is considering moving its final two home fixtures to an Albany venue after the deterioration of the western side of the ground.
DWFC coach Matt Candy said the club was in discussions with the council to try to figure out a solution.
“We’re currently in negotiations with them; we’ll be at council this week to put our case forward,” he said.
“They’ve got to spend the money on it to fix it — they acknowledge that and they want to sort it out.”
Candy said his team were training in the recreation centre now in an effort to limit foot traffic on the ground.
DWFC committee member Carl Heslop said the poor state of the ground was affecting the quality of football.
“I think it could be a lot better than it is — it doesn’t help the standard of footy,” he said
“You watch games in Albany and the standard is much better in those games due to the playing surface. With that type of ground the ball is going to spend more time on the ground and that means the players spend more time on the ground.”
Shire of Denmark acting chief executive Cliff Frewing admitted the ground was unsafe to play on and the Shire was in the process of dealing with the issue.
“We’re trying to minimise use of the ground for training and matches over the coming months to limit further damage,” he said
“The Shire is conducting its own research and analysis to try and improve the drainage for next season, that’s where our priority lies at the moment.”
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