Fresh from hosting the AFL grand final, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is undergoing the biggest redevelopment of its surface since 2006.

Less than 48 hours after the Hawks defeated the Swans on one of the biggest days on the venue's calendar, ground staff have begun the unenviable task of tearing up 20,000 square metres of turf.

Arena operations manager Tony Gordon said there had been plenty of preparation for the resurfacing project.

"Today is the beginning of what has already been an eight-month process," Mr Gordon said.

"By the end of the week you'll only see sand out on the ground."

The ground last underwent a complete restructure ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Mr Gordon said while the ground had been redeveloped in sections over the last eight years, the current works would be the biggest since those games.

"Think of it like an old car - you service it and get the oil changes, we do that every year - but eventually it has 200,000 kilometres on it, it's not performing like it used to and there's new technology out there," he said.

"What we're trying to do is mitigate risk when things aren't going your way, in June and July when the weather is not so good."

It is expected that over 150 truckloads of material will be removed from the ground over the next week before the new turf is laid down.

Ten portable cricket pitches will also be installed this month in preparation for the summer season.

Mr Gordon said the inconvenience would be worth it in the long run.

"It will be long-term benefit, short-term pain for long-term gain," he said.

The ground is expected to be ready for domestic cricket's Sheffield Shield opener between Victoria and New South Wales on October 31.