HAWTHORN triple premiership star Jordan Lewis has slammed the MCG playing surface, likening it to the much-maligned ANZ Stadium. 

Lewis said the home of football required plenty of work to be ready for a busy finals series in five weeks' time, with the MCG to play host to four Victorian clubs, including Lewis' Hawks. 

"It's probably the worst (condition) I've seen it since I've been involved in AFL football," Lewis told Crocmedia.   

"I nearly made the comment that I would've rather played on ANZ Stadium than the MCG, which is a big call, I know."

ANZ Stadium has been regarded by AFL players as the worst playing surface in the League. 

Hawthorn's loss to Richmond at the MCG on Friday night was the first of two games at the venue in round 18, with Melbourne upsetting Collingwood the following day. 

The matches were the two lowest-scoring fixtures across the nine games.  

Lewis said the difference in surface between the wings and the centre corridor, which was relaid before round 15, was causing players difficulty. 

"That's the hardest thing (keeping your feet)," Lewis said. 

"I think they relaid the middle part of the ground. 



"You are slipping over on the wings - if you put screw-ins in, then you get to the middle of the ground, then it's a different surface. 

"It's a balancing act." 

Traffic on the MCG has been at an all-time high, with three international soccer matches played on the ground last month. 

Games involving AS Roma, Manchester City and Real Madrid, plus three AFL matches, meant six sporting fixtures were played in just nine days from July 18-26. 

Managers of the soccer giants criticised the state of the playing surface, while Real Madrid chose to move its training off the arena. 

Lewis has played 110 matches at the MCG in his 11-year career.