Zero Hangar | "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.

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