Pitch passes the test

Photosport

Players in the AFL match between Essendon and St Kilda test Etihad Stadium pitch ahead of Bledisloe Cup and loss of footing was infrequent

The much-talked about pitch for tonight's All Blacks-Wallabies test has passed its first test of a busy weekend.

Seven days after hosting a match described as 'footy on an ice skating rink', the maligned surface of Etihad Stadium in Melbourne was vastly better behaved for the AFL match between Essendon and St Kilda. While players did lose their footing, it was very infrequently and mainly in the third and final quarters of the game.

Ground staff got to work quickly after the match, knowing they still have the Bledisloe Cup test and a second AFL game to get through before they can pat themselves on the back.