Industrial fans and helicopters.
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Orange Emus is considering any and every device it can source to dry out a water-logged Endeavour Oval, including the use of helicopter blades, in a bid to improve the ground's playing surface after Saturday's Emus-Platypi Blowes Clothing Cup match.
Emus are drawn to host defending premiers Bathurst at Endeavour Oval on Saturday and, barring a complete disaster, should finish in the top two at the end of the shortened regular season, meaning week one of the finals will be played at the club's Woodward Street home, too.
Emus' president Campbell Hedley was at Saturday's clash and saw first hand how badly the conditions deteriorated in the midst of the snow, sleet and rain that fell during the game.
We're looking at anything we can to drain it out, including industrial fans and helicopters.
- Emus boss Campbell Hedley on his club's efforts to dry Endeavour Oval's surface.
However, he says the club's immediate options are limited with another home game just six days away.
"But we're going to be looking at all sorts of options for those semi-final games," Hedley said.
"We've taken training off the field and moved juniors to other locations ... just to lighten the load.
"We're looking at anything we can to drain it out, including industrial fans and helicopters. I don't imagine the neighbours would be too happy about those," he laughed.
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The field's drainage issues won't be fixed overnight and Hedley wants to see more support from council in the future so the field can continue its role as the premier rugby venue at Orange.
"Someone needs to kick a million-plus (dollars) into rebuilding the drainage," Hedley said.
"The soil needs to be dumped ... we've got a hump in the middle of the field to help with the drainage but it doesn't quite do enough.
"The grass itself is fantastic when it's dry but it needs to be drained. We need to chase down as many grants and as much assistance as we can."
While the Emus board is scrambling to make the necessary adjustments, the final call could be made by Central West Rugby Union CEO Matt Tink.
At present, though, he's not willing to disclose Central West's plans should Endeavour Oval be deemed unfit for play come finals time.
Central West Rugby Union is in charge of the running of the finals series for all of its competitions, including the Blowes Clothing Cup.
"We're all over it," Tink said. "We've got plan B and C so there'll be a few different options we're looking at."
The Central Western Daily understands CWRU will take into consideration a ground's facilities and ability to host a large crowd - in line with COVIDsafe measures - come finals time.
With that in mind, Dubbo's Apex Oval is in the frame to host all finals in 2020.
"The thing I don't want to see happen is a player's wife and kids not be able to watch the grand final because they can't get into the ground," he said.
"That's probably my biggest concern."