Suns show delight in ground’s condition

GOLD Coast’s last remaining query about playing in Shanghai has been answered with the players giving the surface at Jiangwan Stadium the tick of approval.

Defender Rory Thompson trained solidly yesterday, the club’s first hitout since arriving in China on Thursday morning, and has been selected to make his return after a month out with a quad injury.

Jack Bowes and Brayden Fiorini also come into the side.

David Swallow, Matt Rosa and Callum Ah Chee did not make the trip.

Suns players had heard Port Adelaide’s glowing endorsement of the track with some players comparing it to the MCG but had reserved their own judgment.

But the surface exceeded their expectations at the midmorning training run held in rainy and cold conditions.

The stadium is an old parade ground with one permanent grand stand on the wing and concrete terraces and temporary corporate hospitality facilities.

The AFL bought it out for eight months and flew in two turf experts to reseed the surface and maintain it throughout the Chinese winter.

Suns midfielder Touk Miller said it was first- class quality and completely appropriate for an AFL premiership match.

“The surface is unreal, the venue is probably a little bit different given it is an open stadium with a couple of grand stands they’ve put in,” he said.

“But the surface, we cannot complain. It is as good as it gets really, the AFL have done really well with that one.”

Miller revealed it was firm under foot but no harder than Etihad Stadium and said the grass was comparable to York Park in Launceston.

“It is a bit like Etihad with the firmness underneath, but the quality of the grass is unbelievable. It reminds me of Launceston too, it is really flat, it’s super.”