The state of the playing surface for the preliminary and grand finals compared with other grounds in the league fuelled debate at Saturday’s premiership decider about a future venue.

The matter is on the agenda for a league meeting next week.

The league asked Warrnambool City Council to heavily water the ground in the lead-up to the grand final because it was so hard in the preliminary final. The surface was softer on Saturday but a lack of grass cover and unevenness prevailed.

The Hampden league has a bylaw which states Reid Oval is the grand final venue.

Koroit Football Netball Club president Maurice Molan said clubs needed to join forces and push for change.

“As a group of clubs we have to review our whole philosophy on the finals now that Hamilton Kangaroos and Portland are in the competition,” he said.

“We have to review where the game is played and when the netball starts.

“Reid Oval isn’t up to speed. It wasn’t last weekend (the preliminary final) and it was better on Saturday but we need a premier ground. 

“The surface has to be the number one factor.

“It’s up to the clubs to go to the Hampden league.”

Molan said players resembled “skun rabbits” after the preliminary final, such was the ground’s firmness.

The issue of the A grade netball clashing with the senior football grand final, raised several times this season, meant Koroit’s supporter base was split on Saturday as the A grade netballers scored a one-goal win in overtime while the footballers were setting up their own premiership.

League president Hugh Worrall said the executive would meet next Monday and review the season.

Worrall said the bylaw listing Reid Oval as the grand final venue would be reviewed and discussed. 

The same bylaw also says one final must be played in Corangamite and Moyne Shires, with no reference to Southern Grampians and Glenelg shires, the homes of Hamilton Kangaroos and Portland.

Worrall was reluctant to comment on the Reid Oval surface.

“It really showed its wear and tear,” he said.

“We were really grateful the council watered the ground and did the best they could.”

Worrall said the choice of the ground venue was based on many factors.

“It would be great to have facilities like some of the other regional cities have got but we can only use what we have got and use the best ground that will suit all our purposes.”

Mayor Michael Neoh weighed into the debate yesterday.

“Reid Oval is the best location,” he said.

“It’s no different from the MCG. You have teams who play their home games there but you don’t move the game. The issue is the facilities need to be better.”

He said the council had worked hard to prepare the ground for the grand final but the damage was done when the TAC Cup game was played on a muddied surface, the day after five district league games were played in the rain on the ground.