Safety fears over Domain wall
Domain Stadium is leaving itself open to legal action by not covering the exposed concrete in several sections of the oval according to a leading employment and safety lawyer.
The Domain Stadium fence has a section starting in the forward pocket at the three tier stand and running to the interchange bench which is partly concrete and partly wire fencing. The concrete area is about 50cm high and 15cm thick.
The majority of the concrete is covered by thin sponsorship signs during matches but there are sections which remain exposed. They are next to the races where Fremantle and the visiting team runs out each week.
Contests near the fence have been a problem for AFL players in recent weeks. In the past fortnight, Carlton pair Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy and Brisbane's Nick Robertson were all fortunate to escape injury after being knocked into the fence at Etihad Stadium.
GWS forward Devon Smith and Brisbane's Darcy Gardiner were both fined for their part in the accidents. Carlton's Tom Bell was cleared of any wrongdoing for his contest with Robertson despite the Lion leaving the field on a stretcher.
Port Adelaide’s Kane Mitchell ended up in the crowd in round five Showdown after being unable to stop before the fence.
Philip Willox, from law firm King & Wood Mallesons, confirmed that a player could take legal action if he was hurt after colliding with the concrete fence in Perth.
"The stadium and clubs have a duty to ensure the playing area is safe. They are required to assess risks and take reasonably practical steps to negate identified hazards," he said.
"If you fast forward and say a player trips and falls onto it or is pushed or tackled and falls onto it. What would then happen? Would they have a claim? I think you can certainly see them having a claim to be compensated.
“Could there be a prosecution. In theory, yes. If there is a known hazard it should be addressed."
Willox compared the exposed concrete to the decision to place padding around goal posts.
Subiaco Oval groundstaff addressed concerns about the concrete interchange bench in 2006 after former West Coast star Adam Hunter was injured in Geelong. Hunter got pushed into the concrete dug out while playing against the Cats so the padding was installed to lip of the interchange area in Perth.
Management promised to install protection for the exposed concrete but the issue has remained unresolved. The AFL Players' Association is discussing the wall with its members to gauge concerns.
Perth Stadium Management, which runs Domain Stadium said it had met minimum standards for the distance between the boundary line and fence but would seek clarification from the AFL about whether more safety measures were recommended.
