The AFL and Optus Stadium today announced the venue would immediately introduce a protective covering to be used in front of the LED signage around the perimeter fence for all upcoming matches at the ground for the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

The AFL advised the AFLPA and the WA-based tenant clubs – West Coast Eagles FC and Fremantle FC – that it would require this alteration at the venue after the AFL and the Stadium had reviewed the circumstances around last weekend’s match at the ground in which two Geelong Cats’ players – Mark Blicavs and Zach Tuohy – had suffered cuts after making contact with the LED signage.

AFL General Manager Football Operations Steven Hocking said that while the run-off area at Optus Stadium had been set at 5.5 metres, beyond AFL guidelines that request a minimum distance of five metres, it was the AFL’s immediate priority to ensure that any risk of injury to players was reduced and this would require action around the signage.

The signage at Optus Stadium has some differences to signage at other AFL venues and Mr Hocking said the AFL had also been in contact with both the Geelong Cats and the AFLPA since the weekend’s game in regards to this matter, after the injuries to the players.

He said the covering of the current signage would be used as a temporary measure until a permanent solution would be installed by the venue in the latter part of the season.

Mr Hocking said the AFL thanked the venue and its senior management for their willingness to address the issue as quickly as possible in the aftermath of last weekend’s match, as preliminary investigations had indicated that the injuries sustained could be linked to characteristics of the newer technology, used only at Optus Stadium. At this time, no additional safety measures are required at other AFL venues, pending further follow-up.

Optus Stadium Chief Executive Officer Mike McKenna reiterated that player safety is the primary focus and the venue would continue to work closely with the AFL to make these signage infrastructure updates as quickly as possible.