A-LEAGUE players have raised grave concerns about the state of A-League pitches, with “rock-hard” North Sydney Oval in the gun for Melbourne Victory’s Round 9 clash away to Central Coast Mariners.

The Professional Footballers’ Association will submit reports to Football Federation Australia after repeated complaints about the state of surfaces this season.

The Herald Sun understands Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium was booked last Friday as FFA contemplated moving the Newcastle Jets-Brisbane Roar clash from Hunter Stadium.

Six days earlier the Jets hosted Melbourne Victory, the first game at the stadium since a $1.3 million resurfacing.

media_camera North Sydney Oval will be used for Victory and the Mariners’ clash in round nine.

The three pitches that have caused angst among players are:

- Adelaide Oval: Too hard and grass too short, difficult to turn/change direction;

- Hunter Stadium: Turf planted only days before the Round 5 game and it moved underfoot;

- North Sydney Oval: Cricket pitches can’t be moved, will remain hard.

PFA chief executive Adam Vivian confirmed: “The PFA has a number of concerns regarding the suitability of North Sydney Oval for professional football.

“This is not the first occasion this season when the players have expressed their concerns regarding the playing surfaces at some stadiums.

“The PFA has received strong feedback from players in relation to surfaces at Hunter Stadium and Adelaide Oval.

media_camera The Adelaide Oval surface was criticised for being too hard and the grass too short.

“In an effort to assist FFA and clubs in ensuring a safe workplace, the PFA has tabled the introduction of workplace site inspections.

“Whilst to date the players have been frustrated with the response to this initiative, they remain committed to ensuring both FFA and the clubs provide world class working conditions with player health and safety at the forefront of all decision-making.’’

A cricket game was being played at North Sydney Oval on Saturday when a Victory delegation inspected the surface ahead of the December 5 clash with the Mariners.

Victory officials are said to be hugely concerned about player safety with the cricket pitches unable to be removed as they’re not drop-in pitches.

media_camera Joel Griffiths of the Jets makes a tackle on the Hunter Stadium surface.

Players and officials were left scratching their heads when the Hunter Stadium turf gave way after the surface was laid just days before the Jets-Victory clash despite an eight-week since the last time a game was played there _ a Newcastle Knights NRL fixture.

Each pitch gets a rating by a player from each team after the game, and it’s understood that Adelaide Oval and Hunter Stadium were both rated 1 out of 5, with the Adelaide Oval surface describe as “a rock”.

Several players have copped injuries after playing on the aforementioned grounds, while last week Victory attacker Gui Finkler did not train for five days after the Jets game after pulling up sore.

“The ground is hard and slow,’’ Finkler told the Herald Sun after the game.

“There is no water on top, it makes it harder to play football.

“If you put water on the pitch before the game it would be much better.’’

Originally published as A-League players pitch surface concerns