DANGEROUS exposed bolts at ANZ Stadium will be removed and the AFL will step up safety checks at match-day venues in response to a back injury suffered by Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead on Saturday night.
Roughead slid over the bolts in a drainage area behind the goals in the third quarter of the Hawks' win over the Sydney Swans.
He escaped serious injury, but ripped open the back of his guernsey and red welts could be seen on his skin.
The incident sparked yet more controversy about ANZ Stadium, which has come under siege for the state of its playing surface in the past, and the AFL Players' Association questioned the ground's future as an AFL venue.
After an investigation into the Roughead matter, a report from stadium officials said the bolts are used to secure an emergency fire hose reel when the ground is used for other events, but were exposed inside the fence line during AFL matches.
The report stated the bolts are "partially obscured during the pre-match by the netting used behind the goals during the warm-up period", and added that: "They had not been detected as a safety issue before the weekend’s game for any AFL match".
The bolts protruding from the concrete at ANZ Stadium.
A white plastic chair was at times placed over the bolts during the last match at the venue between the Swans and Geelong in round seven.
Tom Lonergan and the chair behind the goals at ANZ Stadium in round seven.
On Saturday night, the chair, used by the person responsible for match balls behind the goals, was positioned a few metres around from the bolts.
The AFL said the matter was "not acceptable" for the Hawks and Swans players, committing to "more rigorous" inspections of venue surrounds adjoining the playing surface.
ANZ Stadium will remove the bolts this week and will also conduct a full perimeter check of the arena.
The AFL will also audit all its other current venues.
Jarryd Roughead grabs his back after sliding onto the bolts. Picture: Getty Images
AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh said there had been a history of issues at ANZ Stadium around player safety and it was "disgraceful" that Roughead had been put in that situation.
"The game is tough enough as it is and the players put themselves at enough risk just playing the game," he told SEN.
"The last resort is walking away from the game, but you have to look at these things.
"At this stadium there's been a history of issues here and we have concerns about the playing surface. This type of issue doesn't help."
