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.
Siege of Perth
Guest
The Round 10 Eagles game you are talking about couldn't be used as a barometer for success for Monday attendances as that day is a public holiday here in Perth. Monday games need to start late though, 7:30ish, knowing from here in Perth getting to a Friday night game after work is tough because its scheduled early for eastern states TV viewers.
Patrick Hargreaves
Roar Guru
I like Friday Night, saturday and then sunday. 4 or 5 days of football is too long, drags the round on. Get people to the games, not sell as much as possible because money isn't an issue.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I also read Ryan's article and totally agree about the ticket prices, however the 2 for 1 on Mondays has proven successful for the storm, and as Melbourne is an AFL city, I think it would probably work for them too. Also if they are worried about low crowds, they could maybe take the games to suburban grounds and market them as 'back to grassrooots' or 'heritage' or something. I think you're probably right about the Thursday games. I wouldn't expect them to work as a permanent fixture, but it proves they can work great as one offs.
Jimbo
Guest
I would rather Monday night football than Thursday, IME people seem to stay home more on Monday nights rather than Thursday with late night shopping, sports, dinners out, .... in other words i am home on Monday night, but not Thursday.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Read Ryan O'Connell's article on here today where he interviewed the Roosters COO. Cheap tickets don't seem to work as well as people expect, though 2 for 1's are probably a bit more effective. I think the Thursday games worked because it was early in the season and, because they were only on for the first few rounds, there was still this "event" or novelty feel to them. They were also games that traditionally draw good crowds. I don't think an average game would have anywhere near the same success. It would be interesting to see how Thursday nights go for a whole season. There were a few complaints about the 8pm kick-offs which meant games didn't finish until around 10. Monday or Thursday games realistically need to kick-off at about 7, especially for the AFL given it's an hour longer.
King Robbo
Guest
Yeah I assume channel 7 do not want to dilute their 'downton abbey' rating numbers.
JamesP
Guest
I do njoy the odd Perth twilight game (4.40pm) which means you get to watch it on Fox at 6.40pm Sunday night
ShmaxShmillas
Roar Rookie
Oh my goodness work on Monday was easy knowing that I'll be getting some sweet football action oozing from my television screen! Every other program can nick off for all I care. I was even happier when it wasn't on Fox Sports.
King Robbo
Guest
Not a huge fan of monday night afl. Whatever happened to Sunday night games? Remember the Adelaide crows played a few in the 90s. I thought they were good to watch as you wound down before the horrors of monday morning.
Australian Rules
Guest
Right you are. Cheers
Epiquin
Roar Guru
That's where you have to weigh up the positives and negatives. Monday night NRL crowds are usually pretty awful, however the ratings are excellent and TV dollars are very important to them. Melbourne Storm have implemented 2 for 1 ticket pricing for Monday nights which seems to have been pretty successful. I think if you're going to pursue Monday night games to secure ratings, you will probably have to take a hit and offer really really cheap tickets. Interesting to note: first 3 opening rounds of NRL on a Thursday night had bumper crowds. But it astounds me how many Saturday games there are in the AFL. I say shift one to Monday or have a Friday double header like NRL.
JamesP
Guest
Not quite... Mondays TV ratings on FTA nation wide (not just the 371k in Melbourne), was 546k. Plus the foxtel is 781k. (Regionals not included) Agree the Geelong v Essendon game got the ratings is truly deserved.(925k FTA + 309 Fox) total is 1.234 (Regionals not included) I have no doubt however you start the Monday night game half an hour earlier and your ratings would improve.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
No thanks. Get the round done and dusted through the weekend. Monday does make more sense than Thursday, which creates all sorts of scheduling problems around break lengths, but still isn't worth it. The AFL, moreso the the NRL, draws crowds. Midweek games make it hard for families with kids, and anyone in outer suburbs, to attend. Remove Sunday twilight, changing it to Sunday night on weekends, and sadly for Fox doubling up on a timeslot somewhere every other week. That slot is a club wrecker as it is, regular Monday nights would be even worse for crowds (though at least that would be on FTA, and be worth sponsorship and exposure which Sunday twilight lacks).
Australian Rules
Guest
For those interested, the MNF ratings were: Ch.7 - 371k Fox - 235k (as an aside, the Ess v Geel match on Friday night had 1.54M viewers nationally, FTA & Fox combined - the 5th highest watched home-and-away match ever).
JamesP
Guest
This topic comes up every year, so I will repeat what I usually say: A. Not every week. Mothers Day weekend and Easter + mid year School Holidays means about 4-5 games a week (plus the extra Monday games of Easter Monday and Queens Birthday). B. It has to start earlier. 7.10pm start is perfect so people can come after work and the match is done before 10pm C. Play one of the games each in Perth and Adelaide. Once Adelaide Oval and the new Perth stadium open on the fringe of the respective CBD's, people can easily come down after work. D. Do not play any games in Sydney. While Sydney has a culture of Monday night footy, the RL crowds are abysmal, no doubt due to the difficulty of getting around Sydney E. This should be a foxtel exclusive game. Channel 7 wont like it, but it would allow the earlier 7pm start, would encourage more fans to get to the game, and would still be good for 300k on fox which is right up there in terms of Pay tv audiences.
John Ascenzo
Guest
Why is there a problem with Monday night football again? TV audience and fan interest is there. It is just another form of entertainment after all. I always watch ABC Monday night, yep political junkie, but I watched footy last Monday even though I've been a Cats fan for 61 years.
Knoxy
Guest
Not a fan of Monday night football. It's too exhausting coming home from work and then going to the football knowing you have a whole week of work ahead of you. If the AFL was going to schedule regular mid week games, I'd much prefer that they played football on Thursday nights. At least then you know you only have one day of work before the weekend. I always enjoyed watching the traditional Thursday night season opener between Carlton and Richmond.
Matt F
Roar Guru
It can work as a rare event-style thing, but weekly Monday night games won't be good for crowds. Crowds for NRL Monday Night games are consistently lower than other timeslots, despite the good TV ratings. The general consensus among NRL fans is that they love watching NRL on Monday nights but hate it when their team is playing as it's difficult going to the game on a Monday night. I would imagine that AFL fans will share similar sentiments if it ever becomes a regular thing.
Chairman Kaga
Guest
You must be a St.Kilda supporter. It stuffs the whole week up. It is too tiring after getting through the Monday at work to then trudge off to the footy. Friday nights are fine. No more of this.
Franko
Guest
Agreed, I don't like getting in to code war territory but it seems to be ok for every other sport. I'm really surprised that the tv audience wasn’t much much higher. In Europe Tues and Wednesday champions league every fortnight is the premier viewing event, as is Monday night NFL in the states. Anyway, yes I am all for Thursday night and Monday night footy.