‘The world moves on': Swans push case for dramatic SCG revamp, expansion
'I'm a real estate person. You can't have real estate that is as valuable as the SCG and that whole precinct, and have it underutilised. It's just crazy.'
Venues NSW is reviewing the condition of the three stands, pulling together previous master plans for the stadium and adapting them to account for changes to the Moore Park precinct following the rebuilding of Allianz Stadium, to create a vision for the new SCG. However, no funding commitments have been made by the NSW government. 'Venues NSW will be undertaking a condition assessment of the O'Reilly, Brewongle and Churchill stands. The focus of this assessment will be to ensure the facilities meet the modern needs of fans,' said a spokesperson for Venues NSW.
If the O'Reilly, Brewongle and Churchill stands are demolished, it is presumed there will finally be room to be able to facilitate a drop-in wicket at the SCG – a contentious change the Swans have long pushed for, but now has tentative support from Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg.
Pridham, however, does not buy the argument that it is not possible to do now due to logistical issues.
'I wasn't born yesterday,' he said. 'I don't accept the argument. In fact, I know it's not correct that you couldn't do a drop in wicket. There is sufficient technology today. I mean, we landed on the moon in 1969, so they can put a drop in wicket in the SCG tomorrow.
'That's a bit of a furphy that argument. The other argument is that they need somewhere to grow the grass ... there's plenty of grass around the SCG, and it's really a matter of will from the government to make it happen. I don't think it should be dependent on redevelopment of the grandstands, albeit I think they're both important.'
Another issue Pridham is firm on is the prospect of sharing the SCG with the Giants, who have previously flagged interest in playing a home game there during the period in which Engie Stadium is unavailable due to the Easter Show.
'It's not happening, so it's not worth discussing,' he said.
The Giants are now reportedly exploring the possibility of selling a home game to a Melbourne-based club and hosting them at the MCG.
As for matters on the field, Pridham has been disappointed by the Swans' 2-5 start to the season, their first under Dean Cox, but provided unequivocal support for the new head coach, who is grappling with a difficult injury crisis, which means they will field another vastly under-strength team on Sunday.
'It's not the start we wanted nor expected – but it's not unprecedented,' he said.
'I still remain optimistic. Clearly we've got to improve, but I think we've got a lot of improvement in us. There's no excuses in footy. You either win or lose. But look, [Cox is] doing a fantastic job. Everyone's really, really happy with what he's doing. Circumstances haven't been great for him in terms of the injuries. The fixture's obviously also been tough. There are circumstances, but we never like to make excuses. He would never make excuses either. We've just got to get better.'
Beneath the AFL, however, Pridham expressed 'real concern' about the state of the code in Sydney at grassroots level, particularly when it comes to participation rates for boys and men, although the boom in numbers for girls and women was a bright spot.
Loading
'In terms of male participation, in metro Sydney, including the western suburbs, I think it's going backwards, and it's very, very disappointing,' he said.
'It's actually a significant concern. A lot of clubs are having to merge due to lack of players, due to lack of facilities. It's a real problem, and we're very focused on what the AFL and the Swans and the Giants can do together to try and stem the flow. If you look at the growth of the game in Queensland, for example, it really is chalk and cheese.
'There's a lot of work to be done, and it's a vast, vast geographical area, so it's challenging. There's definitely no quick fixes. It's just time, it's shoe leather, it's inspiration, investment – it's a slow burn. It's not glamorous, but you've just got to keep at it.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
30 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Inter line up former player Chivu to replace Inzaghi
Beaten Champions League finalists Inter Milan will appoint their former player and youth coach Cristian Chivu as manager to replace the recently departed Simone Inzaghi. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said on Friday that the deal would be announced once details have been worked out with Parma, Chivu's current club. Inzaghi left Inter on Tuesday, four years to the day since his appointment and three days after his side suffered a 5-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final to end the season trophyless. He was named coach of Al-Hilal a day later. Italian media reports had already named Chivu as the new manager with the 44-year-old Romanian set to sign a two-year contract, and Marotta, speaking at the Serie A Festival, all but confirmed the news. "To win, money alone is not enough, expertise, planning, experience, and many other qualities are needed," Marotta said. "All these qualities are what we believe to have, for example in the case of Chivu. I'm saying this because I cannot give official confirmation as there is a bureaucratic aspect we need to overcome with Parma." Meanwhile Gian Piero Gasperini has been named as Roma's new coach, taking over for the retiring Claudio Ranieri following his successful run at Atalanta. "I need a significant challenge," Gasperini said in an interview released by Roma. He has signed a three-year deal for the club owned by Texas-based businessman Dan Friedkin. In nine seasons at Atalanta, Gasperini guided the Bergamo club to a Europa League triumph in 2024, six top-four finishes in Serie A, and a Champions League quarter-final. Atalanta have turned to Croatian Ivan Juric, who left Southampton following their relegation from the EPL, as Gasperini's replacement.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Special' Hughes performance headlines Cowboys thumping
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team win consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who this week signed to stay on in 2027, said Hughes had been battling a number of injuries including a broken hand and neck issues. "He has been playing pretty well, but that was a pretty special effort tonight, it was definitely his best performance this year," Bellamy said. "He's done remarkably well to have played as many games as he's played, with some of the injuries, they're just sort of worn him down a little bit mentally too, not being able to do the things that he's used to doing or is capable of doing. "So he's been really brave for us ... but it looked like he shook off a few of those injuries tonight." Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes later. Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence goal-line kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic, the Storm made them pay when they got a chance in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he dragged four defenders over the line. Payten said his team beat themselves. "It's just pure disappointment, we didn't make a good team earn anything," he said. "When you crack so easily on your tryline, and then just give them leg up after leg up with tackle four or five penalties, play one, two errors, so it probably should have been more, to be fair. "It's frustrating and burning inside ... I hate when we beat ourselves, and I felt like tonight we did exactly that." Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team win consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who this week signed to stay on in 2027, said Hughes had been battling a number of injuries including a broken hand and neck issues. "He has been playing pretty well, but that was a pretty special effort tonight, it was definitely his best performance this year," Bellamy said. "He's done remarkably well to have played as many games as he's played, with some of the injuries, they're just sort of worn him down a little bit mentally too, not being able to do the things that he's used to doing or is capable of doing. "So he's been really brave for us ... but it looked like he shook off a few of those injuries tonight." Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes later. Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence goal-line kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic, the Storm made them pay when they got a chance in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he dragged four defenders over the line. Payten said his team beat themselves. "It's just pure disappointment, we didn't make a good team earn anything," he said. "When you crack so easily on your tryline, and then just give them leg up after leg up with tackle four or five penalties, play one, two errors, so it probably should have been more, to be fair. "It's frustrating and burning inside ... I hate when we beat ourselves, and I felt like tonight we did exactly that." Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team win consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who this week signed to stay on in 2027, said Hughes had been battling a number of injuries including a broken hand and neck issues. "He has been playing pretty well, but that was a pretty special effort tonight, it was definitely his best performance this year," Bellamy said. "He's done remarkably well to have played as many games as he's played, with some of the injuries, they're just sort of worn him down a little bit mentally too, not being able to do the things that he's used to doing or is capable of doing. "So he's been really brave for us ... but it looked like he shook off a few of those injuries tonight." Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes later. Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence goal-line kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic, the Storm made them pay when they got a chance in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he dragged four defenders over the line. Payten said his team beat themselves. "It's just pure disappointment, we didn't make a good team earn anything," he said. "When you crack so easily on your tryline, and then just give them leg up after leg up with tackle four or five penalties, play one, two errors, so it probably should have been more, to be fair. "It's frustrating and burning inside ... I hate when we beat ourselves, and I felt like tonight we did exactly that."
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Todd Payten unleashes mammoth half-time spray only for it to backfire badly
Cowboys coach Todd Payten unleashed an all-time spray on his troops after a dismal first half against the Storm on Thursday night. The coach reportedly named and shamed several of his stars, pointing out issues in their game and lapses of judgement as they went into the break down 18-4 against the storm. But it was the stats that told the story, North Queensland made 7 errors and missed a whopping 27 tackles despite having most of the possession. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. And so Payten decided to try and light a fire under his side going into the second half. But his hopes of a different outcome in the second period went up in smoke within 2 minutes. Inside 50 seconds, Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater dropped the ball in their first set of the half. And the very next set Melbourne crossed for their fourth try. After extending the lead to 20-points Fox Sports' Eloise Sohier revealed Payten gave reportedly the worst spray the Cowboys' bench had ever seen. 'The bench told me that they have never seen a spray as bad as he (Payten) delivered at half time,' Sohier told Fox Sports. 'He picked out players, he tore apart their game. He won't be happy with that start.' You can watch footage of the NRL coach's spray in the player above. In the end, the Cowboys were thoroughly beaten 38-14 by the Storm, who were far from their best themselves. And the NRL world empathised with the 46-year-old coach after a difficult evening. 'Todd Payten has every right to feed it to those Cowboys. A couple of those tries were very soft,' one fan wrote on X. 'Fox: 'Todd Payten gave them the Biggest spray they've ever seen', Cowboy Players: 'I didn't hear anything,' another joked. 'Obviously the spray Payten gave them at half time didn't work. Once again they were their own worst enemy,' a third added. After the game, Payten was still seething at what transpired, as he spoke freely about his disappointment in his players' performance. 'Pure disappointment,' Payten said in response to a question about what he made of the game. 'Didn't make a good team (Storm) earn anything and in the end when you crack so easily on your try line and give leg up after leg up … it probably should have been more.' Jahrome Hughes shines in Storm win Star halfback Jahrome Hughes was back to his Dally M winning form as the Storm proved too good for the Cowboys. Hughes and five-eighth Cameron Munster were playing for a 100th time together as a halves combination and they got the better of rising North Queensland duo Tom Dearden and Jaxon Purdue in an intriguing battle. It was the 77th time the Storm has won with a Hughes-Munster halves combo, an impressive 77 per cent. The Storm made it back-to-back wins for the first time since early April. Hughes had his fingerprints all over the victory. The 30-year-old scored two tries to go with two try assists and produced a tidy kicking game with 386 kick metres. Munster was a handful too, making 17 runs for a punishing 181 run metres. 'They are mesmerised by Hughes. Just dancing and weaving his way with ease,' Michael Ennis said.
