The pitch is being readied at Blundstone Arena for next Wednesday’s FFA Cup match between South Hobart and Marconi Stallions.
The
requirements of Foxtel are being met in regard to camera positions level with
the half-way line and so the pitch will not be as close to the main grandstand as
originally anticpated.
The
commentators will not be in the usual commentary position high up in the main grandstand
but on the opposite side of the ground.
Photo: Stephen McMullen and Ken Morton at Blundstone Arena [PlessPix]
Stephen
McMullen, General Manager – Venue Operations at Cricket Tasmania, said: “There’s a fair bit of organising that we’re
doing in regards to just the lay-out and changing over and processing.
“Also,
with a different code, there’s some different things that we need to provide in
terms of positioning of different officials and the like.”
McMullen
said the grass would be cut to the normal length, but that could change after
both teams train on the ground next Tuesday.
He
also confirmed that the pitch would be laid out differently to that initially
envisaged so as to meet the requirements of television.
“We
worked with FOX in terms of the positioning of cameras,” he said.
“They
want cameras looking straight down the centre-line from opposite sides of the
ground, so it was just a case of configuring it to suit broadcasting.”
Tthe
entire game will not be shown on television.
Whenever there is a goal, FOX will switch from their main televised game
to Blundstone Arena to show the goal.
“It’s
quite exciting and I think it’s a great venue, especially where the pitch is at
the moment and the grandstand over the top of it, so it’ll be good for
spectators,” said South Hobart coach, Ken Morton. “It’s exciting for the game”
“It’s
not a home-ground advantage for us, but we’d like to make it that way so it’s
be nice to get of to a cracking start here and get the crowd behind us and just
see what we can do.
“But,
we’re playing a quality team in Marconi so I’m sure it’ll be an exciting game.
“WE
will have a light training run on Tuesday, weather permitting, so that’ll help
us familiarise ourselves a little.
“Other
than that, we’ll just have our own banners and supporters getting behind the team
and making it more like Darcy Street with a bit of atmosphere.
“I’m
sure on the night, it’ll be a great atmosphere.
“Marconi
play very direct and they try to bully teams and, while they’ve got some quick
forwards, we also think we have some quick forwards who may be able to exploit
some weaknesses at the back.
“We
think the surface will suit us. We like
it slick and the curator will make sure it’s slick for us as well, so we’ll be
looking forward to the challenge.”
Photo: The main stand at Blundstone Arena [PlessPix]
Morton
watched a live-stream of Marconi’s game last weekend, a 4-2 win against Mt
Druitt Town Rangers, and he will travel to Sydney this coming Sunday to watch
them play Sydney Olympic.
Marconi
Stallions are fifth in the standings, Mt Druitt sixth and Sydney Olympic ninth.
“All
their goals came from set-plays so that’ll be something we’ll have to watch.
“If
it’s a quick game, we’ll be with them.
We can move it around quickly and I do think we have some pace up front that
could worry them.”
7 comments:
Right behind you South as you represent Tasmania on the National stage.
Marconi by 7
If you can see it
How can Kobe Kemp play when he's played ffa cup qualifiers for another team?
So they aren't televising the whole thing and yet these FOX creeps are dictating the positioning of the ground so spectators will have a worse view. That stinks!
The FOX creeps who are paying for the whole competition to happen in the first place...the best thing to happpen in football for years...those FOX creeps? How dare they...lets organise a boycott...that stinks!
Great exposure for the game. A few of my non soccer/football mates are tagging along with me on the night.
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