Too many blowouts and crazy crowds in AFL
Roar Rookie By jono52795, 17 Aug 2010 jono52795 is a Roar Rookie
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- AFL, Collingwood Magpies, Essendon Bombers, MCG
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Round 20 has just passed in the AFL Premiership Season, and whilst there were a couple of cracking games, there were also ones which left a sour taste in the mouth of even the most ardent AFL supporter.
Friday Night at the MCG was an absolute shocker.
Only Collingwood supporters would have been happy with what they saw. What Essendon served up was by no means disgraceful, it just had not a hope in the world of competing against the best team in the competition.
An attendance of less than 60,000 was disappointing considering it was the blockbuster game of the round. Collingwood were good to watch, but a game that’s over at quarter time is a boring game from that point on.
Credit to the 48,000 fans who turned up on Sunday afternoon for the Hawks Vs Demons game.
With a finals spot on the line for Melbourne, the game was an enjoyable one, going by highlights alone. Richmond completely rolled over against Carlton, and the Western Bulldogs were made to look second rate against the Cats.
Both games featured good crowds; both games were over by half time.
Sunday twilight can only be characterized as a failure.
A mere 23,000 fans attended Etihad Stadium for North Melbourne and St.Kilda, one playing for a chance to make Finals, the other a legitimate premiership contender. Why was there a crowd almost identical to the one that attended the Melbourne Victory Vs Perth Glory game in the middle of August, in the middle of AFL mad Melbourne?
I can only lay the blame on the fixturing: 2.00pm at Etihad Stadium on a Sunday afternoon sounds a lot better than 4.40pm on a Sunday night.
Interestingly, the three genuinely exciting games came from the ones that attracted the least amount of attention from media circle in Victoria.
Port Adelaide Vs West Coast Eagles featured a last quarter worth watching again. Unfortunately, only 14,000 people were there to see it. Yes, both teams are bottom four and a long way from Finals.
But 14,000 on a Saturday night is just disappointing, no matter how much spin is applied.
Luckily, in 2010, Fremantle are a competitive team, so a committed 34,000 fans turned up for the Finals-like contest against the Sydney Swans at Subiaco Oval. A hard fought, close, fast and skillful contest eventuated.
The game was not decided until the final seconds. One of the games of the season!
The pity is Victorian AFL fans were more interested in watching Collingwood smash Essendon for the second time this year.
The Brisbane Lions have been mighty disappointing from Round five onwards this season. With finals chances completely shot, they took on an out of form Adelaide Crows on a hot Sunday in Brisbane.
Two disappointing teams on a hot day when some would rather go to the beach and nearly 26,000 people turned up. A great crowd.
The AFL’s aggressive push into South-East Queensland appears to be working. If only the Lions were a competitive outfit and the Crows were in the top 8!
Round 20 has taught me two things.
One, there are too many blowouts in the AFL, with many games practically over by half time, and it is reflected in up and down crowd attendances.
Two, the Victorian media is too obsessed with Victorian AFL teams.
The six inter-state teams are what makes the A in AFL. How the above problems can be rectified seems to be impossible to figure out. Our great game at its most senior level suffers from big games featuring lopsided results and disappointing teams willing to accept second best on the field.
Whilst there are hardened AFL supporters in Victoria and other states who are committed to their teams cause no matter what they serve up on the field, the rest of Australia is not fooled.
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The Crowd Says (28) | Page 1 of Comments
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- AFL, Collingwood Magpies, Essendon Bombers, MCG
August 17th 2010 @ 8:06am
Mister Football said | August 17th 2010 @ 8:06am | Report comment
There have been a lot of blow outs this season, but I’m not sure whether it stands out statistically compared to other seasons.
Once the ump bounces the ball, it’s 18 versus 18, and whatever happens, happens.
One thing we have always understood about Australian Football is that a team only needs to be 5% off its game in order to cede a massive advantage to the opposiiton, and invariably – that shows up on the scoreboard – there ain’t no papering over it.
Unfortunately, the bullies were 50% off their game.
As for crowds, well, Round 20 still reached the season average of a touch under 300,000 per round, and the AFL is on track to record a season high aggregate attendance figure (which may never be beaten).
So I’m not sure the AFL admnistrators should slitting their wrists just yet.
Port has become the problem child of the league, and it’s not entirely unexpected either.
August 17th 2010 @ 9:23am
Mister Football said | August 17th 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Apologies, that should have said an all time high average attendance figure for a season.
It will be an all time high aggregate figureas well, but it will be beaten many times over in the future.
August 17th 2010 @ 2:04pm
Anthony said | August 17th 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Every week since the season began St Kilda crowds have been down 10,000 from what they should be. This is disappointing – they have a large membership, play well & in the top 4. Why don’t they get better crowds?
August 17th 2010 @ 2:09pm
Michael C said | August 17th 2010 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
perhaps the curse of Docklands,
I’d content Carlton are about 10K down on what they’d do if they were playing the ‘G instead of Docklands.
August 17th 2010 @ 4:33pm
jono52795 said | August 17th 2010 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
I agree on the Port Adelaide topic. They seem to really lack an identity as a club, either they should be connected in all forms to Port Magpies or else they should establish themselves as a new club. Poor crowds are all too common for Port Adelaide and North Melbourne. It really does let the league down…
August 17th 2010 @ 9:07am
Michael C said | August 17th 2010 @ 9:07am | Report comment
The irony is that I think it was Tim Lane who towards the end of the first qtr on Saturday night predicted the downfall of Geelong with the Doggies 3.1.19 to Geelong 1.0.6. My how that game turned on its head.
Ironically, 4 teams scored about 60 to lose. Port lost by 1 pt. North by 50ish, Essendon near enough to 100 and the Doggies by 100. The Doggies though must surely still have been impacted by the flu that had swept through the club the previous week. You don’t over come it and regain all your energy within just a couple of days.
However, this time of year, clubs like Essendon and Richmond will tend to be getting games into youngsters with no hope of making the finals, and sending other players off early for end of season surgery. Richmond blooded another 2 first games including the 22 yo Irish rookie Jamie O’Reilly.
Alas, the AFL were no doubt hoping back at fixturing time last year that Firday night Coll v Essendon WOULD be a ‘blockbuster’ leading into the finals. It wasn’t, with top vs bottomish. Perhaps the AFL does need a more flexible Friday night slot, as Melb vs Hawthorn on Friday night would’ve been far more worthy.
The main issue for crowd attendances appear to be:
1. a variety of time slots allowing for TV, this issue impacts all codes – the AFL is tracking pretty well overall this year given the compromises. The NRL knows all about this.
2. the need to host ‘low drawing’ away teams (esp, for example, North Melb hosting all 6 interstate sides), and then getting StKilda on a twilight slot (see issue 1 above). This WILL only get worse with GWS and GCFC.
3. Port Power,…..’nuff said. Although Sat night in Adelaide was pretty ugly weather and very little ‘attraction’ to 13th (?) vs 16th. I don’t blame ‘em. Especially with the game on 30 min delay on Ch.10 into Adelaide, and LIVE on Fox into Adelaide……..questions surely must be asked on that front.
4. clubs for whom the season is effectively over about 6 weeks out from end of season, however, the AFL season is the shortest of the NRL and HAL as comparisons. The HAL over 30 weeks risks having teams well out of contention about 10 weeks out from finals, possibly injury riddled and getting smashed more often than not. With no P&R system,……it’ll be hard to retain crowds. A common enough problem.
In the chase for $1 billion broadcast rights……..which of the issues above will become worse??
btw – with the massive high rotations of I/C, blowouts are risked when sides lose 1 or 2 to injury relatively early on. The AFL IS looking at something from that front. The irony again is that seemingly most fans who have responded would prefer no change. Me thinx people need to consider all the implications. Would 2+2 (I/C + subs) or 3+2 be a large part of the answer. Ensuring that teams are less likely to lose out on the ‘rotation’ capacity and retain injury cover.
August 17th 2010 @ 9:28am
Tom said | August 17th 2010 @ 9:28am | Report comment
It didn’t occur to me what an excellent crowd that was for Brisbane, but 26k is very good indeed, when you consider how much that team is struggling this season compared to expectations. If that is the baseline of support in Brisbane then you’d think AFL has a promising future in south east Queensland.
August 17th 2010 @ 1:22pm
Al said | August 17th 2010 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
At least 6,000 Crows supporters there, they were making a hell of a lot more noise than the home supporters.
August 17th 2010 @ 4:13pm
Footy Legend said | August 17th 2010 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
It sure was and it sure does!
August 17th 2010 @ 10:18am
Michael C said | August 17th 2010 @ 10:18am | Report comment
as a matter of interest, comparing so far 2010 to 2007,
% games below 10 pts margin 2010, 19%, 2007, 16%
% games 4 goals or less, 2010, 40%, 2007, 47%
so, we’ve had more close one’s inside 10 pts, but, less inside 4 goals.
Avg margin in 2010=35.9 , 2007= 32.02
Games OVER 80 pt margin, 2010, 8%, 2007, 5%.
if inside 48 pts, or an 8 goals margin is deemed a not too attrocious – then,
2010, 69% vs 2007, 78%.
this means an extra 9% of games this year compared to 2007 have ‘blown out’ above 8 goals.
btw – most common margins (mode) – -
2010, 6 occurrences of 36, 9 and 3 pt margins. 5 occurrences of 19 and 8 pts, and 4 occurrences of 1 pt margins (plus 4 each of 26, 29, 35, 38, 50)
2007, 9 occurrences of 17 and 31, 7 of 16, 6 of 24 and 25, and down to 5 of 1 pt margins, and 5 of 8, 10, 23 and 27.
As a North supporter we’ve either been competitive against most teams around us and below,….or blown out of the water by the top sides. I guess we are symbolic. Is it simply that a few sides went hard on young drafted talent in the lead in to GCFC and GWS?? That a lot of clubs let go more mature ‘fringe’ players sooner than they might have?? And that perhaps 2010 illustrates this. It may just be a temporary phenomenon.
August 18th 2010 @ 4:28pm
Beast-A-Tron said | August 18th 2010 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
Some good facts and figures there – don’t expect jono52795 to respond.
Goals are at a discount, close games are at a premium.
In soccer for example, it’s the other way around: goals are at a premium, close games are at a discount.
I know which way I prefer.
August 17th 2010 @ 11:29pm
jimbo said | August 17th 2010 @ 11:29pm | Report comment
Mister Aussie Rules and Mister Stats – bloody marvellous, what?
AFL average crowds this year are actually lower than 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
TV ratings across Australia are the lowest for nearly a decade.
The Swans average attendances this year are lower than they were in 1996.
August 18th 2010 @ 8:49am
Michael C said | August 18th 2010 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Jimbo -
You said AFL average crowds this year are actually lower than 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
May I draw your attention to the following
Year Attendance GM Ave.
2010, 5942478, 160, 37140
2009, 6370350, 176, 36195
2008, 6511255, 176, 36996
2007, 6475521, 176, 36793
2006, 6204056, 176, 35250
Gee, that looks like your very first, and most easily confirmed statement – - is totally false.
Doesn’t do much for your credibiility. Does it.
Why did you bother??
August 18th 2010 @ 4:57pm
Michael C said | August 18th 2010 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Jimbo – your 3rd point,
The Swans average attendances this year are lower than they were in 1996.
1996 = 24,574
2010 = 30,087
May I ask where you obtained your stats?
August 18th 2010 @ 5:02pm
beaver fever said | August 18th 2010 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
NIce legs, shame about the fac ts.
August 18th 2010 @ 9:05am
Paul J said | August 18th 2010 @ 9:05am | Report comment
The Lions have had great crowds since the late ’90′s when the Gabba was upgraded.
The TV audience is the challenging part for them.
August 19th 2010 @ 12:19am
bilbo said | August 19th 2010 @ 12:19am | Report comment
TV audiences are definitely a concern for the Lions and Swans – their numbers this year have been shocking, and they have been that way for some time.
Another issue for the Lions is accessibility due to the large amount of Victorian based members – they had three crowds this year that were deemed sellouts – however their highest attendance was 36K, which is 7K short of capacity. They have approx 8-10K Victoria-based members.
While this provides them with support when they play in Melbourne, it does prevent people from attending the games – some sections sell out very easily – and also means the atmosphere is never as good as it could be – they’re always playing in front of a minimum of seven thousand empty seats.
While the Swans have upwards of 10K Victoria members, they do not have this issue because they can use Stadium Australia when venue constraints pose a problem. Besides using the out of date QE2 stadium in Sunnybank, there are not many options available to the Lions.
August 19th 2010 @ 8:22am
Michael C said | August 19th 2010 @ 8:22am | Report comment
bilbo –
I doubt the Vic based members have reserved seats at the Gabba.
More likely, for it to be a ‘sell out’ is that the public (General Admission) seating is sold out. The rest of the seating is effectively accounted for. Whether season reserved seat holders or Gabba ground members all turn up is another question.
This is seen at the MCG too, a sell out that ‘only’ draws 84,000. The other 16,000 were most likely vacant seats in the broader Members (MCC – cricket club) reserve and AFL members reserve (together accounting for about 45,000 seats).
August 18th 2010 @ 8:51pm
ac said | August 18th 2010 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
How anyone could think that overall the crowds for the AFL are down is beyond me. AFL is a game to see live and when you do go it is very enjoyable,. Where AFL struggles is TV. And to be honest the struggle is not too bad. The NRL has a very good product for TV tright => left , left <= right. Thats why the tv audience for NRL is so much higher than the crowds they get to actual games. t The product is different and the different style that suits tv. I just love the way the AFL hoops up the crowd at the actual game very very carefully crafted. The NRl has a lot to learn. But, it seems they are doing pretty much alright also. Alll codes can prosper
August 18th 2010 @ 11:36pm
jimbo said | August 18th 2010 @ 11:36pm | Report comment
Michael,
you must be getting your stats from the AFL website or Andrew Demetriou’s press office:
Here are my stats.
Avge Attendance AFL Matches
2010, 37,140 (to date)
2009, 37,760
2008, 38,287
2007, 38,113
2006, 37,412
The Swans average attendances this year are lower than they were “since” 1996.
1997 = 35,818
1998 = 32,354
2006 = 36,153
2010 = 30,087
August 19th 2010 @ 8:10am
Michael C said | August 19th 2010 @ 8:10am | Report comment
Jimbo -
you DO realise there are 3 columns, the Home and Away, the Finals and the Overall.
Why oh why are you comparing the overall figure from previous years to the as of Rnd 20 H&A figure for 2010??
Thus far – - the AFL H&A crowds are ahead of the ‘Record line’ if we were watching a swimmer in the pool.
August 19th 2010 @ 4:04pm
beaver fever said | August 19th 2010 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
He is really embarrasing himself MC, so quick to look and post negative press, he has forgot as usual to really check his facts.
August 19th 2010 @ 4:38pm
Michael C said | August 19th 2010 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
bf -
Not wanting to put down Jimbo or anyone in particular,…..I’d just like to suggest people have to be careful when finding a single snippet of information without understanding the context…..and rushing to use it in a negative sense,
too focussed on the destination and not enough focus on the pathway to get there……a bit like Justin Bieber, the “boy who couldn’t see glass”……..what hurts more??,…… smashing the nose into a glass door,…..or doing it in public,……or doing it more than once!!!!
(almost Friday!!).
August 19th 2010 @ 4:54pm
beaver fever said | August 19th 2010 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
MC, when reading this thread, and then checking the link, i scanned across and did the same thing as Jimbo ( you know nice legs, shame about the fac ts), but reading a bit closer and going back to column one, you see the real stats.
Unfortunately for Jimbo, his eagerness to provide negative stats about Australian football without doing the proper homework has embarrassed him … again !!, and i doubt whether it will be the last time.
August 19th 2010 @ 11:48pm
jimbo said | August 19th 2010 @ 11:48pm | Report comment
The only one embarassed is Andrew Demetriou and the Aussie Rules commissioners.
After spending hundreds of millions trying to expand AFL in Sydney, its dying a slow death and no one is watching it on TV.
You need to buy the whole Parramatta league team if you want any more publicity up here.
August 19th 2010 @ 8:53am
Michael C said | August 19th 2010 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Jimbo -
re the Swans crowds,…….”since” 1996……..
nah,……the Swans 30K+ avg this year is better than 2000, 2001 and 2002.
August 23rd 2010 @ 11:10am
docbrown said | August 23rd 2010 @ 11:10am | Report comment
The TV ratings are down 10% this year. Clearly Saturday Arvo and Sunday Twilight matches are affecting this. Adding a Monday night game is going to make this worse. Better to have
1 – Friday 8:30pm Night on 7 – don’t do the stupid NRL doubleheader, it wouldn’t finish till 2 am.
2 – Saturday Arvo 3:00 pm on Fox – viewer’s choice
2 – Saturday Night 6:00 & 9:00 pm on 10 – great footy night
2 – Saturday Night 6:00pm on Fox – earlier for families
1 – Sunday Arvo 2:00pm on Fox
1 – Sunday Arvo: 3:00pm on 9 – live
I’d rather see 5 games on a traditional Saturday than dud games Sunday & Monday
August 29th 2010 @ 8:18pm
Mister Football said | August 29th 2010 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
It looks like we’ve fallen 16,000 short of the aggregate crowd record of 2008.