Bringing the power of hybrid grass technology to the new Home of the Matildas
The Australian women’s football team is heading to a state-of-the-art home, and Polytan and HG Turf Group are a part of it.
In the world of football, technological advancements have played a crucial role in improving playing conditions and enhancing performance. One such innovation making a significant impact is hybrid grass technology. This ground-breaking solution combines the best of natural grass and synthetic turf, benefitting both players and the sports that use it. In this interview, we sit down with Paul Kamphuis, General Manager, Polytan Asia Pacific, to discuss the transformative power of hybrid grass technology and its role in reinforcing women's football in Australia.
On the Benefits of Hybrid GRASS Technology…
Major football events like the Women’s World Cup have traditionally been played on natural grass, but FIFA has identified that hybrid grass, which is mix of natural grass and synthetic grass enhances pitch performance (and therefore the game). The synthetic grass fibres create a more consistent playing surface which improves ball bounce, ball roll and player footing.
“As the hidden component of the surface, our synthetic turf fibres helps athletes extend themselves and achieve remarkable feats. While our product remains invisible, the magical moments in the game are made possible by our involvement.”
The synthetic fibre protects the natural grass, making it more stable and durable. This not only extends the lifespan of the natural grass, especially across a tournament, but also provides additional support and resilience for elite-level usage and training.
Stability underfoot is the key advantage for players. A hybrid grass system eliminates the risk of displacement, providing greater stability and confidence in movement. Players can attack the ball faster, change direction swiftly, and perform with utmost confidence, resulting in a higher standard of play. It mitigates risk for players and venue owners alike, and it’s 100% recyclable at the end of its useful life.
Nature can’t match the precision and strength of our engineered Sport Group synthetic fibres, so by combining science with nature you get the perfection of synthetic with the look and feel of natural grass.
On the partnership between Sport Group/Polytan and HG Turf Group…
HG Turf Group are well known in our region as being the premier supplier of natural grass for elite sport events and facilities. Polytan are proud to hold an equivalent position in elite sport using synthetic sports surfaces. As market leaders at the elite level in our respective markets, we have long-standing respect for one another’s expertise and have collaborated on numerous projects. With the global R&D backing of Sport Group, this relationship is further strengthened by integrating our respective technology and innovation into a combined system. HG Turf Group chose our fibre, because they recognized the value a superior synthetic turf fibre would make to their system.
On supplying the secret ingredient to the world’s best tournaments…
As the hidden component of the surface, our synthetic turf fibres help athletes extend themselves and achieve remarkable feats. While our product remains invisible, the magical moments in the game are made possible by our involvement.
On the fibre and marginal gains…
The fibre we developed has been chosen by HG Turf Group to enhance natural grass surfaces. We bring high-quality, innovative technology to their HERO Hybrid Grass system, providing one of those essential marginal gains that make a significant difference in sports.
Working on the Home of the Matildas…
We collaborated closely with HG Turf Group on the prestigious Matildas project, delivering world-class sports infrastructure. This massive undertaking showcases our collective expertise and commitment to providing the best facilities for players now and in the future.
Our collaboration from the project's inception ensured the highest standard of sports infrastructure. As Melbourne-based companies, we were determined to provide the best overall package for the Home of the Matildas, combining our individual market leadership and collective expertise.
The popularity of women's sports has grown significantly, and the visibility of women's football inspires both girls and boys alike. The gender divide is fading, and young individuals are increasingly motivated to participate in sports, fuelled by the excitement generated by events like the Women's World Cup.