Perception of the SCG

[SPC]

Different size of AFL ovals compared to the MCG

They did this comparison a while ago on AFL Insider of the sizes of each AFL playing surface compared to the MCG as the base model.

I found it surprising that the SCG is almost always referred to as a very small AFL ground (compared to the MCG), but when you look at these figures, from the centre bounce its only 4m shorter than the MCG to kick a goal and only 2.5m closer to the boundary. Maybe the actual size difference may 'look' much larger due to the bigger stands at the MCG?

MCG is 160m long and 141m wide.

AAMI: +5m length, -8m width
Aurora: +10m length, -1m width
Gabba: -4m length, -3m width
Etihad: -0.5m length, -12.2m width
SCG: -8.5m length, -5m width
Skilled: +10m length, -26m width
Subiaco: +15m length, -19m width

Disclaimer - I havent actually run the tape over each of the grounds, just using figures AFL Insider produced.

[R-1]

I think the SCG used to be shorter?

Really though, my maths isn't great but it seems like ANZ, Subiaco and Skilled, with their narrowness, would have similar or even smaller surface areas.

[Teasdale77]

This got me curious as to how the grounds measured up by area. Unfortunately, the grounds aren't the same shaped ellipses with some having squarish pockets, so it isn't possible to calculate without an aerial view in perfect perspective.

Also, the measurements given appear to be the size of the ground to the fence in some cases (Subiaco) and the size of the field of play in others (AAMI measures the fence boundary as a much, much bigger 177m x 145m according to wiki).

Still, here are the numbers for comparision using a standard geometrical ellipse*

MCG is 160m long and 141m wide = 70,874 square metres

Aurora: +10m length, -1m width = 74,770
MCG = 70,874
AAMI: +5m length, -8m width = 68,942
Gabba: -4m length, -3m width = 67,632
Subiaco: +15m length, -19m width = 67,073
SCG: -8.5m length, -5m width = 66,871
Etihad: -0.5m length, -12.2m width = 64,540
Skilled: +10m length, -26m width = 61,418

I suspect the SCG's deep pockets make it bigger than the 3 grounds above it but honestly I think I wasted my time due to skewed source numbers and irregularly shaped grounds. SCG still looks bloody small to me


* In geometry, an ellipse is a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points (the foci) is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane that does not intersect the base (get that up ya!)

[Nich]

* In geometry, an ellipse is a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points (the foci) is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane that does not intersect the base (get that up ya!)

I got half way through this sentence and my head exploded.

[Cheer Squad]

It's not the size that counts, it's how it's being used.

We push out wide at the SCG all the time, instead of going straight up and down.

[Bas]

I suspect the SCG's deep pockets make it bigger than the 3 grounds above it but honestly I think I wasted my time due to skewed source numbers and irregularly shaped grounds. SCG still looks bloody small to me


* In geometry, an ellipse is a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points (the foci) is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane that does not intersect the base (get that up ya!)

Too much carbon tetrahydrochloride in that last brown suit dry clean.

[AnnieH]

It's not the size that counts, it's how it's being used.

We push out wide at the SCG all the time, instead of going straight up and down.

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

[Bas]

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Is what the opposition supporters do when we push out wide instead of the central thrust.

[Cheer Squad]

Is what the opposition supporters do when we push out wide instead of the central thrust.

Pushing out wide means there's not much penetration up forward. That's why we've been having trouble scoring.

[ScottH]

Pushing out wide means there's not much penetration up forward. That's why we've been having trouble scoring.

Works for Collingwood.

[stellation]

I love the lack of uniformity in grounds, but that 23.5 metre difference in length between the SCG and Subi is pretty crazy. I appreciate overall ground size isn't that different, but still pretty crazy.

[RogueSwan]

Different size of AFL ovals compared to the MCG

MCG is 160m long and 141m wide.
...
Gabba: -4m length, -3m width
...
SCG: -8.5m length, -5m width
...

Interesting to see that the grounds close to the MCG in dimensions are all cricket grounds.