Multiple outlets review ABC comedy “Ground Up” and reach a similar conclusion that the program does not land as intended. The show centers on a fictional approach to Tasmania’s new AFL team, but reviewers say the humour depends heavily on widely used, easy-to-recognize gags. The criticism is not limited to the writing choices; several assessments also describe the dialogue as lacking energy or impact, with character interactions portrayed as delivered in a manner that does not fully engage. While the reviews acknowledge the premise connects to a topical sports setting, they characterize the execution as falling short of what the concept could offer. Across the sources, the main points of agreement are that the comedic material leans on predictable material and that the performances and writing do not consistently generate the intended effect. The overall tone of the coverage is that the series fails to build momentum and does not provide enough sharpness or freshness to sustain the comedy, despite its premise.