Standalone AFL game rides high in ratings

Just because one happens to live in Australia, doesn't mean they have to embrace a particular code. It's supposed to be a free country isn't it?

The AFL Football code will be number one in Melbourne - no issue there, however at least consumers of sport will have choice. That can only be a good thing.

Interesting, around 5.3 million people in rural QLD, NSW and 3.2 million in rural VIC, WA, SA, Tassie ( ACT/NT may cancel each other out). In all probability those 1 million + people not surveyed (SA,WA rural) would be rabid AF fans, so it does make quite a difference. We can rabbit on all day about this, but at the end of the day, the respective TV deals puts it in perspective.

Footy is the most popular sport in Melbourne that wont change regardless of nrl coverage. Comparisons will still be difficult as the Storm are currently and not surprisingly since they are propped up by News Ltd millions at the top of the nrl ladder. Whereas GWS will be at the bottom of the afl. Swans mid table.

Posts by people like JVGO depress me quite a bit. The amount of vitriol towards what is Australia's unique game depresses the hell out of me. Why are people brought up to hate the great Australian pastime...and they live in Australia too...I just don't get it. If you prefer other sports, so be it...but that isn't reason enough to hate Australian football.

Been, Good numbers. Lets also remember that to date, at least 8 Million potential NRL Fans do not have reasonable FTA access to the rugby league. Things are about to change though. The Storm game this Friday is anticipated to be beamed in non traditional markets on Gem. The AFL's monopoly on sport coverage is over south of the Barrassi line. Then and only then can national comparisons be made.

Norm, Yeah those beaches at night in June, July & August must be fans swimming in the dark.

You expend a lot of energy on AFL threads on Western Sydney. Have a look at the Melb Storm, how many Victorians in this 'Melbourne' team after 15 years? At least there are NSW born & bred players in the Swans & Giants, your hypocrisy knows no bounds. Stop misrepresenting what Roar posters are saying, you twist & turn to suit your agenda you are nothing but a troll. Get a life.

Yes Standalone Game did ride high in the ratings but NRL still got better figures for its frisday game. The ratings for the sydney market for the swans giants games were poor despite all the promotion.

No never said any of that. You are obviously failing to remember things Norm. But since you are misquoting me Norm here is an incredible believe it or not list of AFL fans opinions from the Roar, credit where credit is due. - Western Sydney is a demoralised non vital sporting wasteland which the arrival of the Giants will renew with hope and hitherto unexperienced southern vigour despite the fact that its recent sporting alumni include Michael Clarke, Harry Kewell, Brett Emerton, Ian Thorpe, Paul gallen, Matt Nielsen, Steve Waugh and a host of others.(Yes Cattery so well put) -We can add point 1 to the fact that a game conducted at Homebush between one team of Victorians in orange and another team ogf Victorians in red should at last fill the people of WS with some sort of pride (I guess because they really have nothing else to be proud of. Thanks Andrew Sutherland.) -The swans have 1.2 million fans and are the most popular sporting team in Australia (AFL official statistic I believe) -NRL matches and their crowds are dangerous and unsafe and not family or female friendly (Thanks wazza for that gem) -NRL fans are prone to conducting carnal relations with plastic blow up women (thanks Fitzy for that one, love it) -The Olympics is a complete waste of time and money and the money should be handed over to the AFL because they are so much better at junior participation (Good one Cattery) -Beau 'Doggies' Ryan and his segment on the Sydney Footy show is a danger to the AFL and indicative of anything other than the level of maturity of the average 13 year old in Sydney (The average Sydney 13 year old considers Beau is way funnier than Kevin Sheedy could ever be by the way, Thanks for getting hysterical over that one jaceman) -The region of Western Sydney begins at Chippendale and goes all they way to broken Hill (thanks to the AFL in its govt submission re funding for that one) -Izzy Folau and KHunt took up AFL mainly for the challenge despite the fact that current AFL icon izzy admitted except for the money he wouldn't have done it -The GWS colours of apricot? charcoal? and cream? are entirely original and completely unrelated to the NRL Wests Tigers colours of Orange, black and white (I think IW can be credited with that.) -There are no NRL fans left in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney (good work Clipper, great scouting of the two pubs in Woollahra you visited sometime around the Swans Heyday) -AFL is an International game and hence it is necessary to conduct a celebration of the fact at Blacktown every year at the AFL's expense, (full reports available via the cattery) -Melbourne is the sporting capital of the Universe (despite the fact that all the international sporting teams that Australia's sporting reputation is built are based primarily around NSWmen and Qlders. Of course every Victorian is assured of this from birth particularly when ever queried about AFL's international status. Credit Jeff Kennett) -All NRL supporters live in mortal fear of the AFL and its inevitable dominance (this is about the only sentence Redb can manage to string together since his latest nervous breakdown, no doubt induced by the hypertension of awaiting the arrival of GWS.) -'It's all about the kids' This mother of all motherhood statements infers that expansion is not really about massive broadcast deals and I guess is the reason the AFL is offering some of its largesse to NSW kids in the form of $20 bank accounts in return for signing on for AFL (Thanks Andrew D for that, my kids want to know where they can sign up, as many times as possible please). All I can say is that this astounding, abbreviated list can be no doubt labelled 'to be continued'.

Didn't some NRL tragic (JVGO?) tell us that Sydney people don't go to NRL games because: A. They are all at the beach/river B. They are all at the local park enjoying the sunshine that AFL states don't have C. There are more things to do in Sydney in winter....opera, art, music, theatre, restaurants D. NRL is much better on TV, so why go to a live game?

I understand the AFL fan's concerns about WA and SA regionals, but lets please be serious about this..... Can you at least acknowledge the numbers. If regional markets were classified as cities Rugby League would dominate 4 of the top 5 Here are the markets by size: 1. Sydney 4,580,000 2. Melbourne 4,080,000 3. Regional NSW 2,660,000 4. Regional QLD 2,559,687 5. Brisbane 2,043,185 6. Perth 1,696,065 7. Regional VIC 1,470,000 8. Adelaide 1,200,000 9. Regional WA 593,935 10. Tas 507,626 11. Regional SA 440,000 12. ACT 333,667 13. NT 229,675 Can anyone see why NRL fans would want to include the 3rd and 4th biggest TV markets in the ratings? It’s obvious isn’t it? While 5 city metro excludes the Suns and maybe the Cats, it blatantly does not include fans of the Cowboys, Titans, Warriors, Raiders, Knights, and large sections of St George fans (most of which live in the bush).... So an AFL fan says Metro+Regional is unfair because 1 million potential AFL fans are not included NRL fans will say Metro is not fair because 5.2 million potential NRL fans are not included.

James Something like 325K was the regional component of the FTA audience for the AFL game & 60K was the regional component of the Pay TV audience 251K for that game. Are those figures dodgy also?

Bring on Blues v Tiges and Pies v Hawks. Massive weekend. There's two 80,000 crowds right there.

Whats mkr?

For such a blockbuster match though I wouldn't be crowing about that figure.

AFL are world champions at promoting their product. This opening game was promoted as big as the would be second coming of Jesus or a mkr final. Even I watched the first two minutes hehe

Populace not the greek populous

Another post by the thugee cult with dodgy ratings numbers.

1.2M v 950K last year for season opener. Good result for two NSW teams, essentially the new 9th game. Will add to a bumper year for tv ratings. Of course the Thurs & Fri night games will go alright as well :) The NRL can't compete with our crowds they can only look on and drool. Check out the MCG this week!