Essendon Football Club will meet with Colonial Stadium management post Grand Final to discuss the ground 's playing surface. Chief executive Peter Jackson said today the meeting had been on the club's agenda for some weeks but felt it was best to wait until the season was completed before opening discussions. On 3AW earlier this week, Essendon captain James Hird backed the club's decision to look into the condition of the surface. Hird suggested the surface was hard in some places and soft in others and as such heightened the risk of injury.

""We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Colonial Stadium since making it our home ground at the commencement of season 2000. We have worked through a number issues in the past three seasons and we will work through this one as well,"" Jackson said. ""A group - including fitness staff and senior players - will meet with the stadium management so that both parties can get a handle on any problem that might exist. If there is a problem will look at how it can best be fixed. We will advise the outcome of this meeting in due course and in the meantime will not be commenting any further on the issue.""