Shaun Higgins of the Western Bulldogs marks in front of Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda. Slattery Images
Don’t get me wrong, I can not wait to watch some of the footy on offer in this upcoming Rivalry Round, but I just wonder if cramming a bunch of genuine blockbusters into 48 hours is the best way to go about it.
Talking to colleagues and friends this week and browsing online forums yesterday, people appear to be getting very excited about this weekend’s footy.
And so they should be. There’s some wonderful games of footy on.
The brilliant thing about the round is its attraction extends beyond localised derbies and rivalries, with genuine interest coming from all over the nation in some of the blockbusters such as Collingwood versus Carlton or the Western Bulldogs against St Kilda.
Also the AFL will celebrate the fact that Rivalry Round, which has formally existed since 2003, typically draws in massive crowds.
In fact, during last year’s Rivalry Round over 240,000 Melbournians (roughly six per cent of the city’s population) attended the footy within 48 hours.
That incredible statistic, though, reflects my point.
The fans genuinely want to attend these rivalry games, naturally to claim their bragging rights over their enemy first-hand and the day becomes quite the occasion.
But often on these occasions, a lot of the other fixtures get lost on us.
In effect, we’re spoilt for choice during Rivalry Round and tend to neglect some pretty decent matches. It seems a shame to waste such intriguing fixtures.
For example, this Saturday night will see a fixture clash of two genuine crackers with a fierce contest expected when Essendon play Hawthorn in Melbourne, while at the same time there’s a top of the table clash between Sydney and Brisbane with the added spice of Daniel Bradshaw facing the side he walked out on for the first time.
Sure, there’s timeslot clashes every week, but given it is Rivalry Round (essentially a round of blockbusters) maybe something could be done in advance.
On that note, Anzac Day last weekend offered up a rare treat from the AFL, with the scheduling of a triple header which would have delighted any armchair fan.
You wonder if there couldn’t be something similar applied to Rivalry Round to avoid these timeslot clashes given each game has genuine substance to it which makes footy fans across the nation keen to tune in.
Perhaps even a stand-alone Monday night fixture (ala the NRL) could do the trick.
Sure, it is hard to argue against the Rivalry Round crowds which are usually huge but isn’t the attraction of these games natural?
Indeed, I’m all for keeping the Rivalry Round as an annual weekend but rather than spoiling the fans for choice, wouldn’t it be nicer to spread it around and enjoy it all for what it’s worth?
gazz
Roar Pro
just switched on the showdown after the NM-Melb game! spewing i missed the first 3 quarters, seems a ripper!
Thomas Conlin
Guest
Not suggesting the two are in anyway linked. Obviously the scheduling has nothing to do with the recent scandal. BUT the caliber of matches this weekend will certainly warrant a few extra column inches in the papers which might otherwise have been filled with more on the Storm and the NRL, and that will no doubt please the AFL marketing department.
Redb
Guest
Mattrusty, Looking forward to tonight, it should be pretty fiery. Cheers and Go Dons!
MattRusty
Roar Pro
This goes against all the rules (to, as a Hawks supporter, agree with an Essendon supporter - on today of all days!!!) but Redb is right, Shaun, why bother putting a comment like that on a blog like this? You seeking a bit of attention princess...?
Redb
Guest
Shaun, why do you bother. It's not rivalry round. Thomas, storm is irrelevant to what the AFL will do this weekend. No idea.
Thomas Conlin
Roar Rookie
Certainly good timing for the AFL though. Should be enough to wrench the back pages of the newspapers back from the NRL and the Melbourne Storm scandal.
Shaun
Guest
Rivaly round....yawn.....I suppose it is just another great "Australian tradition" like who ever plays on ANZAC day.....was never my tradition.....was never most people's tradition......more yawn.......
Timmuh
Guest
Yes, rivalry round could be fixtured better - by not having it. Adelaide - Port, West Coast - Freo, Carlton - Collingwood - these are all big enough to highlight a round on their own. All lumping them together does is crowd out any promotion of any other game. Those games will get huge crowds and ratings regardless of any additional marketing from being a themed round.
Ben Somerford
Roar Guru
Oh ok Redb, technology is already passing me by and I'm only in my mid-twenties...
Redb
Roar Guru
in my case its the Foxtel IQ - a brilliant invention.
Ben Somerford
Roar Guru
Forgot 'bout the old VCR tape Redb! Great option!
Redb
Roar Guru
There seem to be far more Saturday night clashes in the fixture this year than last. Its not the first time Sydney games are on at the same time as a Melbourne game. May well have always been the case. Regardless, if you have Foxtel, IQ the Syd-Bris game or vice versa if in Sydney. My footy program: Tonight - Bulldogs v St Kilda on Ch 7 Saturday - watch a bit of Nth v Melb, tape the SA Showdown on Fox. Saturday night - Essendon v Hawthorn - live at the G !! Tape Syd b Bris game. Sunday - watch Carlton V Collingwood, tape WA Derby.
gazz
Roar Pro
Split round is a good idea Brett.
gazz
Roar Pro
I tend to agree with alot of what you're saying here. The occasion of Sunday's Coll-Carl is gonna be something. There's a big day planned for plenty of mates of mine, but as a result the Western derby takes a backseat. Same applies for Sat nite when Ess-Hawks game goes up agst BL-Syd. I'd love to watch them all! So yeh,I for one0, would love more triple headers.
Michael C
Roar Guru
Agreed, perhaps ideally suited to a split round scenario. Next years Easter-Anzac round will be interesting btw. One long festival of footy.....but, still with nothing on the Friday.....
Brett McKay
Guest
Ben, short of putting the Rivalry Round games into the split round, I'm not sure how else you could do it, although perhaps the June long weekend might be another option...