The surface was torn up by vehicles hooning on the wet grass on Sunday night, leaving the field a muddy mess that will potentially take months to repair.

Far South Coast police are appealing for assistance as they investigate damage to the oval. A police spokesman said they wanted to hear from anyone with information about vehicles churning up a large section of grass on the playing field on Sunday night.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said the vandalism was a terrible shame.

“The AFL are playing here now, the Giants; what are they going to do? It’s a disgrace,” he said.

Pointing out the bollards, which surround only some parts of the oval, he said more needed to be done.

“Look at these posts … it would only take a bit of work with a crow bar to fix them up and get it looking kept. The bollards don’t extend around the oval; they don’t stop anyone driving on to it,” he said.

“We need to protect the oval. All the people I speak to say the same.​ A lot of grounds will have chain wire around them. Ours is just a paddock.”

Eurobodalla Shire Council parks coordinator Wayne Hutton estimates repairs to Kyla Park could cost $10,000 and take several months. This was the worst vandalism to any oval in the Eurobodalla he could recall.

“Sports-grounds must be stable underfoot, so simply top-dressing the grass isn’t enough,” he said. “I’m devastated for the asset, but more so for the AFL committee who have been putting in so much effort behind the scenes.”

The AFL season starts at the end of April and the club has told the council they will arrange to move their early home games to away fixtures to allow time for the ground to be repaired.

The council is asking residents with any information about the vandalism to contact NSW Police.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au