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.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It looks like we've fallen 16,000 short of the aggregate crowd record of 2008.
docbrown
Guest
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
jimbo
Roar Guru
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.
beaver fever
Guest
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.
Michael C
Guest
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!!).
beaver fever
Guest
He is really embarrasing himself MC, so quick to look and post negative press, he has forgot as usual to really check his facts.
Michael C
Roar Guru
Jimbo - re the Swans crowds,......."since" 1996........ nah,......the Swans 30K+ avg this year is better than 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Michael C
Roar Guru
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).
Michael C
Roar Guru
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.
bilbo
Guest
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.
jimbo
Roar Guru
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
ac
Guest
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
beaver fever
Guest
NIce legs, shame about the fac ts.
Michael C
Roar Guru
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?
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.
Paul J
Guest
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.
Michael C
Roar Guru
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??
jimbo
Roar Guru
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.
jono52795
Roar Rookie
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...
Footy Legend
Roar Rookie
It sure was and it sure does!