"It's rooted ... and you can quote me on it."
Rick Shiner, president of the Longwood Redlegs, pulls no punches on the state of the club's home ground in the wake of devastating bushfires a fortnight ago.
The Redlegs' ground not only desperately needs water, but must be top-dressed and over-sewn before the season kicks off.
The heat and fires have been brutal, but in part it is the club's community spirit that has impacted the surface.
"It's our obligation to help people. It was our turn to repay them," Shiner said.
Longwood's home ground became a community hub for residents and the Country Fire Authority during the bushfire. At the peak of the crisis, more than 400 people were at the ground.
"There were deliveries for catering and water deliveries ... a lot of traffic on the ground. We were doing a bit of everything, the hall was like a large cafeteria," Shiner said.
"Our meeting room looked like a small supermarket."
Shiner said the ground is "hands down the worst" he has seen it.
Apart from the traffic on the surface, the dam used to water the ground is all but empty as it was used to fight fires.
The Redlegs are working with Goulburn Valley Water and the Strathbogie Shire for urgent help with water to rejuvenate the ground in time for Round 1 on April 11.
"We're hoping they can come through with some water to put in our tank," Shiner said.
"I'm not a groundsman, but we need to some water and we need aeration to loosen the soil."
The Redlegs usually host pre-season practice games as the lack of cricket pitch gives it summer hosting flexibility.
Those are in jeopardy, meaning potential lost revenue.
It comes on top of the human toll on players and staff who live in nearby properties.
"Our club's trainer lost the lot. All he's got is his car and clothes," Shiner said.
"One of our under-18 families lost the lot. It's been an incredibly tough time."
