Fans vote with their feet for footy on Good Friday
Columnist By Adrian Musolino, 4 Apr 2010 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Etihad Stadium, good friday, Melbourne Storm, NRL, Rugby League, St George Illawarra
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The Storm celebrate Dane Nielsen's try. NRL Rugby League, Round 4 Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons at Etihad Stadium, Friday April 2nd 2010. Digital image by Colin Whelan © nrlphotos.com
If the AFL was starting to have doubts about its stance on Good Friday, then surely seeing the NRL’s Melbourne Storm notch up a record home and away crowd at the home of the AFL will have them reconsidering their position for 2011.
With the AFL in religious hibernation for the day, the NRL smartly moved into Melbourne, scheduling the Melbourne Storm against St George Illawarra – two form teams of the competition and favourites for the premiership – at Etihad Stadium.
It was an intelligent move that paid huge dividends.
The Storm not only romped home to confirm their premiership favouritism, they also won off the park with a record crowd for a home and away game of 25,404.
To put that impressive figure into perspective, there were 2,165 more people at Etihad on Good Friday compared to the previous benchmark set in March, 2000 against St George Illawarra at a rare MCG appearance in what was then a Grand Final rematch, and almost 5,000 more than the figure for their first ever home match back in 1998.
Only the 2007 and 2009 home preliminary finals saw a bigger crowd than Good Friday’s.
The Storm’s new regular season record proves that there is a huge demand for matches on Good Friday, and that the religious significance of the day won’t detract people from attending sporting fixtures en masse.
The AFL has solid arguments for why there is no footy played on Good Friday , but the logic that’s missing in this debate is that Australia is a secular country, not bound by religious rule and encompassing a variety of faiths.
If it is acceptable for the NRL and Super 14 to play on Good Friday, let alone the AFL on other religions’ significant dates, then why can’t the AFL play on the day?
And for those who believe the day should be a non-sporting day in respect to its religious significance, why should we non-believers go without?
After all, those who believe Good Friday should be a day of religious reflection have a choice not to go to the footy, let alone watch it on television. Isn’t sacrifice a religious trait?
But the NRL’s success on Good Friday may force a rethink of the AFL’s position.
The AFL administration, under Demetriou, isn’t one to allow rival codes to get such a free-kick, and seeing the Storm notch up their new record at Etihad, of all places, will have raised a few eyebrows at AFL House.
North Melbourne is now leading the charge for a match on Good Friday, and the AFL may need to listen to them and the public on this issue.
It won’t be any sort of religious awakening which forces the AFL’s hand on Good Friday. It’ll be the reality that it’s giving its rival codes a huge leg up by leaving such a gaping hole in its calendar.
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- AFL, Etihad Stadium, good friday, Melbourne Storm, NRL, Rugby League, St George Illawarra
April 4th 2010 @ 8:08am
Mister Football said | April 4th 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
North should worry more about trying to win a game of footy (rather than getting belted by 100 points).
There is zero issue here – it’s healthy for Melburnians not to have to think about footy for one day during the season – let the NRL and the Storm enjoy the spot light – so what – good luck to them.
April 4th 2010 @ 6:36pm
Country Victoria said | April 4th 2010 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
Whats Mister Football know about Aussie Rules – It is a concern for AFL, AFL will end-up having a good friday games.
April 5th 2010 @ 2:44pm
Nam Turk said | April 5th 2010 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Judging by his user icon, I’d say he’s primarily a fan of Aussie rules.
April 4th 2010 @ 8:26am
Ando said | April 4th 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
“After all, those who believe Good Friday should be a day of religious reflection have a choice not to go to the footy, let alone watch it on television.
Isn’t sacrifice a religious trait?”
Your point that Christians don’t have to watch the game is totally fair, but the last sentence is a bit unnecessary. Probably a good idea to leave comments like that out of a sporting article.
April 4th 2010 @ 2:41pm
Dan said | April 4th 2010 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
That comment may not have been necessary, but neither is it necessary for a major sporting competition to be pretending that we’re all Christians.
April 4th 2010 @ 8:54am
Forgetmenot said | April 4th 2010 @ 8:54am | Report comment
This has put the AFL in a very interesting position.
If they place a game their next year then the media will talk about how football has lost its soul and is selling out to the corporate dollar, and how the AFL only did it to kill of NRL.
If they don’t then the same discussion will occur at a greater and greater frequency and the NRL match will become a HUGE match much like ANZAC day, and it may be too late for the AFL to do anything to stop it. The AFL would love an annual blockbuster match in Sydney each year, maybe the NRL might get one in Melb before them.
There are a number of options open however.
Perhaps the state football leagues could capitalise on this and make it a big day, perhaps a GF rematch.
Or the AFL could promote it as a family day (which would mean community level football).
The state leagues could use it to kick start their SoO.
April 4th 2010 @ 9:48am
B.C. Queenslander. said | April 4th 2010 @ 9:48am | Report comment
For the life of me I can’t see why the AFL don’t schedule football games on Good Friday.
I understand that the Good Friday Appeal is a traditional event which raises much needed funds for charity and is televised on ch 7, but what about friday night?
This is nonsense if they don’t play football on Good Friday because of the religious significance, more people would go to a game of football at the MCG for a blockbuster than would go to church in the entire state on that day.
Have a bloody chuch service at half time if you want, this is a joke, it could be as big as Anzac day if the right teams were scheduled.
Afterall football is a religion in Victoria.
April 4th 2010 @ 10:21am
Mister Football said | April 4th 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Games can, and are, scheduled for Sunday night and Monday arvo – it’s a non issue – they will have big crowds.
In fact – the AFL have big crowds every damn weekend!
It’s a non issue.
April 4th 2010 @ 11:39pm
AA said | April 4th 2010 @ 11:39pm | Report comment
Channel 10 could do the game if Channel 7 has the Charity Appeal in Victoria.
April 4th 2010 @ 10:49am
bever fever said | April 4th 2010 @ 10:49am | Report comment
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/good-friday-footy-proves-a-big-hit-in-shepparton-20100403-rkyo.html
Good friday has been pretty good at grass roots level, IMO the AFL will televise a interestste game into Melbourne next year, this will like having a $ each way.
WCE V Adelaide , would be pretty good in the ratings across 3 cities.
April 4th 2010 @ 9:41pm
AndyRoo said | April 4th 2010 @ 9:41pm | Report comment
Bever, I was going to say just that. It seems the logical thing, doesn’t upset anyone and suddendly becomes a big asset in regards to the TV rights.
April 4th 2010 @ 11:39am
James said | April 4th 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment
AFL won’t let the NRL get a free run on such a holiday. Watch them set up a blockbuster on Good Friday next year. Question is which teams will it be?
April 4th 2010 @ 12:22pm
Forgetmenot said | April 4th 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Perhaps they will wait a few years and have GCFC versus Team GWS.
Or perhaps alternate it between the Sydney, Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane!
April 4th 2010 @ 12:31pm
AGO74 said | April 4th 2010 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
It’s very strange I must say. I mean, they don’t play AFL on Good Friday, yet aren’t the AFL playing matches today on Easter Sunday which is another extremely significant day on the Christian calendar?
Good luck to the Storm. I’m happy they were able to get a good crowd and hope that some of those will come back for more when they finally have a decent home ground to play at when that opens up in a month or so.
April 4th 2010 @ 8:04pm
Chris said | April 4th 2010 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
Slightly different – Good Friday is a day of mourning and Easter is of celebration. I doubt anyone would be particularly concerned if there was a Cricket match on Christmas day for example.
April 4th 2010 @ 12:51pm
AA said | April 4th 2010 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
I went to this game on Friday at Etihad to prove this very point to the AFL.
Adrian has just put it into words for us.
April 4th 2010 @ 1:15pm
crazy horse said | April 4th 2010 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Was the game any good ?.
April 4th 2010 @ 2:43pm
Dan said | April 4th 2010 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Bloody brilliant. Top of the table blockbuster full of big hits and hard running.
April 4th 2010 @ 11:38pm
AA said | April 4th 2010 @ 11:38pm | Report comment
It was OK, I’m not a rugby league expert, but the first half appeard tight, and the second half was more open.
In saying that, I think Melbourne Storm is a damn good team and probably doesn’t get ther credit it deserves in its home town. I don’t think many people realise how good the team actually is.
April 4th 2010 @ 2:19pm
carltonfc said | April 4th 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
i really dont like nrl; it annoys me that the sport is even played in victoria, but i find demetriou’s stance pretty disgusting. i wont be surprised if he does something to try kill off any support the sport has, thats just the kind of ‘good quality’ person that he is. if people enjoy another sport as a favourite pasttime, he’ll do anything to ruin it.
April 4th 2010 @ 3:02pm
carltonfc said | April 4th 2010 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
i cant wait til he leaves the administration