Oval and out as Force leave Subi with few regrets
14th May 2009, 12:45 WST
The only time David Pocock wants to play at Subiaco Oval after Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Highlanders is for the Wallabies, against the Springboks in August.
The Force and their fans depart the AFL ground after four increasingly unhappy seasons and Pocock, for one, isn’t sorry to go.
He’s looking forward to the rectangular confines of Members Equity Stadium, to which the Force will move next year in a deal expected to be formalised by the end of the month.
Although the Force’s main grudge with Subiaco Oval is the dreadfully distant viewing experience it provides for rugby fans, the players know it hasn’t exactly been a fortress for them. Their home record since entering the competition in 2006 is a shabby 10-1-14 and this inability to consistently win at home is the main reason they have yet to appear in the finals.
This year’s campaign would still be alive had they capitalised on a halftime lead in the opening match against the Blues and completed the job against the Hurricanes, both at Subiaco Oval.
Having experienced the up-close and personal atmosphere of Loftus Versfeld and Newlands in South Africa over the past fortnight, Pocock is adamant the move to a rectangular stadium will enable Force supporters to become more of a factor.
“For us to move forward, we have to go to a rectangular stadium,” Pocock said yesterday. “At Subi, all you have is background noise but at, say, Newlands you hear everything that is shouted at you from the seats at ground level.
“You cop all the individual comments and it’s far more intimidating.
“I have no doubt Members Equity will be a tougher place than Subi for travelling teams.
“It’s also a better surface for rugby because it’s pretty flat whereas Subi has a significant camber and cops a lot of wear.”
Pocock admitted to seeing things through the eyes of a fan for the first time at last year’s Tri Nations Test against South Africa, which he watched from the stands.
“It wasn’t real good,” he said. “I understood then why our fans weren’t happy with the place.”
Pocock said the move to a rectangular ground and the construction of the team’s new administrative and training centre at AK Reserve would help with recruiting.
“We saw the plans and it’s obvious a lot of work has gone into the design of the sports science side,” he said.
Tickets for the August 29 Tri Nations Test went on sale to the public yesterday, with prices starting at $44 for adults and $22 for children.
Australia and South Africa have played at Subiaco Oval five times since 1998, with each winning twice and drawing in 2001.
DAVE HUGHES
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