Four days of footy: a weekly Monday night AFL match

Expert

15th May, 2013

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Michael Cowley

Expert

15th May, 2013

So that was Monday night footy – the Sainters bouncing back to some sort of form by beating the Blues. Please, oh please, Mr or Mrs TV Programmer, can you campaign the AFL for more?

I’m like the next footy fan who enjoys going to a game on a sunny Saturday or Sunday to cheer their team. A day at the footy is good for the soul.

But that’s one game. Personally – and possibly many readers may load the comments section below having disagreed with me – I would be more than happy to have a Saturday afternoon game, a Sunday afternoon game, and one game on every night of the week.

Now that’s a steady and healthy diet of footy as far as I’m concerned.

Even if I was to write letters pleading with Andrew Demetriou and the bosses at Channel Seven and Fox Footy to grant my wish, I know it will never happen, but perhaps a compromise – regular Monday night footy.

Have a think about it logically. What do we get dished out on our television screens most weeknights?

Well, karaoke singers all looking for their big break on shows like The Voice, Australian Idol, X Factor, and Australia’s Got Talent.

Cooking shows aplenty make you salivate for food, and weight loss shows make you never want to eat again.

Then let’s not forget 1001 home renovation shows and, of course, a show where ‘celebrities’ belly flop into a diving pool (wow, what a concept).

What they all are is simply just home grown, reality television shows.

Now I ask you… what is the footy?

Home grown and as real as you can get without any necessary editing to make it entertaining for the viewer.

Surely the TV executives in question can see this?

I am speaking purely from a television viewer’s perspective, but indications are the crowds will still attend.

Last Monday’s game attracted 34,054. A little shy of last year’s corresponding Monday night game where 38,823 filed into Etihad Stadium, but more than the 31,393 who watched the two teams play in September last year.

We will get to see in Round 10 how the Monday night thing works outside of Melbourne, when the Eagles host the Tigers in Perth, but I’m willing to bet, weather permitting, it will draw a solid crowd.

Judging by the GWS Giants’ crowd in Sydney last weekend – 5,830 – it’s probably not the best time to experiment with Monday night, Sydney footy, just yet. Maybe later.

Before you hastily brush aside my idea of every Monday night having a game, just think about it.

Mondays at work or school are usually dour and dire days, where you struggle to get through your eight hours. Who doesn’t suffer the symptoms of Mondayitis at least a few times a month?

Imagine if, despite having to head back to work or school after a weekend, we had a footy match that Monday night to look forward to.

And when it’s done, well, there’s only four days until Friday night footy.

With nine games now, there is plenty to spread around. One on Friday night, four on Saturday, three on Sunday, and yep, one on Monday night. Perfect.

I know we don’t like comparing AFL to what other football codes do, but Monday night football seems to work well for the National Rugby League. Why let them have all the fun and TV ratings?

Come on, let’s get behind another night of footy on the box. Get behind real Aussie talent on TV. Get behind true reality TV.

Call it what you want: So You Think You Can Play Footy? MasterFooty. My Football Rules. The Biggest Winner and Loser.

Why not just try Monday Night Football. It will work.

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