There was a time when players played football for the love of the game. It would appear those days are long gone.
There was also a time when the AFL claimed to be the ‘people’s game’. However money has taken over, and now with the extra revenue created by the new broadcast deal, the time has come to decide who matters more to the game.
The players, or the fans?
The AFL’s new television rights deal was touted as a win for everybody involved in the game.
The AFL secured a huge payload set to benefit itself, as well as the clubs and players, while fans were guaranteed live coverage of every match on Foxtel.
Clearly television viewers have been rewarded, but has the AFL neglected those fans who actually attend games?
When the $1.253 billion deal was announced, the players were quick to claim responsibility for the record deal.
“We really deserve our piece of the pie and we feel like we have done the work over the last five years to really get that TV rights deal for the AFL,” Adam Goodes said.
Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown in his newspaper column argued it’s the players who put on the show so therefore deserve the rewards.
“Would the AFL have got $1.253 billion for TV rights if footy wasn’t in such good shape?” Brown asked.
However TV networks only care about ratings, and this is driven by the fans watching the game at home, not by the players.
The networks are willing to pay so much because of the interest from fans, which is why footy is in “such good shape.” The fans will watch no matter what players are playing.
The players are so far losing the public relations battle, with public perception labelling players as greedy and, many argue, already overpaid.
Their ‘give us what we want, or else’ approach has also not gone down well with either fans or the AFL.
The players want 25-27 percent of all AFL revenue. But instead of the extra revenue going towards higher player salaries, it should go towards rewarding the loyal fans by lowering prices.
Andrew Demetriou said the game is a game for anyone and everyone.
“A game that is inclusive, accessible and affordable,” Demetriou said. But as the cost of living rises, so too does the cost of attending games.
So much so that the grand final is no longer for the fans, but reserved for the wealthy.
The standard price for a ticket to the 2010 AFL grand final was $161. Compare this to the NRL grand final which prices ranged from just $60 to $180 for a ticket.
Ticketing allocation doesn’t take fans into account either.
The NRL allows priority ticketing for competing clubs’ members, followed by a general public sale.
The AFL only reserves 26,000 tickets for both competing clubs’ members to fight for, with no general public sale even on offer.
Sadly, most AFL fans will never get to attend a grand final.
Obviously all of the clubs, players and fans are vital to the game, but the players claim is that they are the reason for the league’s success.
The truth is the supporters are what make the AFL so successful. We buy memberships, merchandise and tickets to games that keep the clubs alive and the league thriving.
Television viewers have gained a lot out of this deal, but it’s important the AFL maintain the balance between keeping the TV viewers happy, while still encouraging fans to attend games.
The reason for the record broadcast rights was the AFL supporters. TV viewers have now been taken care of, so it is only fair those supporters attending games should now get rewarded too.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
"I am inevitable" - Thanos, Avengers: Endgame You know that scene at the end of a horror movie where everyone thinks the killer is…
Not often you see Marcus Bontempelli miss a chance like this!
Blues fans were adamant Zac Williams should have received a free kick - but Jason Dunstall and David King weren't impressed with his effort!
Blues fans certainly seemed to be copping a rough run from the umps against Geelong!
"They're not getting a lot of love from the umpires at the moment, the Blues!"
Kicked it like a backman!
