But right now it is buckling under the massive weight of widespread criticism some of which is warranted. And it seems to me a lot of the salvos are being fired by people who need to put their own houses in order. Colonial Stadium is experiencing growing pains. We all do. And I was.
Memories can be deceptively short and often selective.
In 1993 sections of the instant turf at Waverley Park became loose and two Carlton players injured their knees during a Foster's Cup game. As a result five games were transferred to other grounds. In 1996 and again in 1998 the MCG was under siege because of the quality of the playing surface. In July of 1996 then-Collingwood coach Tony Shaw described the turf as ''a disgrace''. In 1998 Essendon's Joe Misiti issued a writ against the AFL and the MCG claiming an unsafe workplace.