THE AFL Players' Association has questioned whether ANZ Stadium should host AFL games in the future after Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead was injured by exposed bolts inside the fence line on Saturday night.

Roughead slid on to four bolts protruding from concrete behind the goals during the third quarter against the Sydney Swans. His jumper was ripped and red welts could be seen on the exposed skin.

It appears a chair was placed above the bolts early in the first quarter of the round seven game between the Swans and Geelong, the last match played at the venue.

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.

ANZ Stadium declined to comment when contacted by AFL.com.au on Monday, saying it would wait until the investigation is concluded.

Roughead played out the game to be one of Hawthorn's best in the 89-point win, finishing with five goals.

The bolts protruding from the concrete at ANZ Stadium.



The AFLPA's general manager of player relations Ian Prendergast is awaiting the report from Saturday night before determining the organisation's exact response but the latest in a series of incidents at ANZ Stadium is understood to have worn out the association's patience.

On Sunday, Prendergast said: "It is completely unacceptable from a health and safety perspective to have players exposed to a dangerous situation like that".

The contract between the AFL and ANZ Stadium has finals to be played at the ground in 2015, subject to availability, and then three games at the venue in 2016 in the final year of the deal.

Tom Lonergan and the chair behind the goals at ANZ Stadium in round seven.



The AFLPA has been frustrated with the state of the venue for several seasons. Many at Geelong were also less than impressed with the ground's condition when the Cats played the Swans in round seven.

Cats star Jimmy Bartel told Channel Seven on Sunday that the club made an official complaint in 2008 about the state of the surface, and questioned the level of care taken in preparation of the surface.   

"The ground always shifts out there and that just really caps it off," Bartel said.

ANZ Stadium said in a statement on Sunday that any risk to player safety was unacceptable and was working with the AFL to investigate the matter.

Jarryd Roughead grabs his back after sliding onto the bolts. Picture: Getty Images