‘The marquee game’, ‘the big stage’, ‘prime time’ – call it what you like, Friday night footy is the biggest time slot in the AFL. Unfortunately, however, it is reserved for the ‘the top sides’, ‘the heavyweights’.
The clubs you mainly see on a Friday night are Collingwood, Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon and Geelong. These sides are gifted with regular Friday night games each season, while sides like St Kilda, North Melbourne, Richmond and a few interstate sides get to make occasional appearances.
However, sides like Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide and GWS are left out.
The AFL seems to think if sides are good enough they will be rewarded with the time slot, however if not, you will receive none.
Throughout season 2013, the bottom five sides from season 2012 have not and will not receive one game on Friday night.
It’s quiet insipid, how are bottom/developing sides going to make a name for themselves when they are not given the opportunity to be on the big Friday night stage?
They can’t be given at least one chance?
They will regularly get the Sunday twilights instead, and even if they do get the occasional Saturday night time slot, it is overshadowed by the other blockbuster.
Saturday night Round 14 this season we had the Melbourne Football Club going up against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG and just down the highway at Simonds Stadium we had The Geelong Cats taking on Fremantle.
Obviously the Cats-Dockers clash was be put on Channel Seven for everyone to see, while the Demons and Dogs were on pay TV for the ‘exclusive’ viewers.
What were the results? The Cats over the Dockers by 41 points, a distant margin which was quite one sided in a scrappy unexciting game, while at the ‘G’ we had Melbourne winning in a thriller by three points in a reasonable high scoring game.
It was a chance for two underdogs to make a name, and they did that, unfortunately it was overshadowed by Geelong and Fremanlte.
Moral of the story, give the underdogs a go throughout the season, we don’t want to see the same teams each week.
Connor
Roar Rookie
Brisbane vs Collingwood was worse. I actually fell asleep.
Connor
Roar Rookie
I've been wondering why they don't get more. They are more exciting to watch than most other teams.
Geronimo
Guest
Its the same everywhere. In the north, 2 Sydney teams fight out one Friday FTA night game whilst Brisbane is in the other FTA game so both cities covered. North Qld, Gold Coast, Canberra, NZ, Melbourne and Newcastle rarely get on Friday nights. Similar with Sunday arvo FTA game. At least in the AFL there is Sunday and Saturday nights for lesser coverage perhaps but the WA/SA /NSW and Qld teams all get FTA in their home markets.
Franko
Guest
Agree 100% that Port v Freo should be primetime indig round. Also, I think ANZAC day should be awarded to the two clubs that have displayed the most 'ANZAC Spirit' the previous year. Neither Collingwood (racism) or Essendon (guinea pigs) or for that matter StKilda (Milne)would be worthy of the 2014 ANZAC day match.
Franko
Guest
Agree with the GC/Skoda's and I think the TV numbers would back that up. Would prefer to watch a SANFL match on ABC that GWS getting flogged by whoever's turn it is that week.
Michael
Roar Rookie
The real issue here is not timeslots, it's that some clubs are simply not at AFL standard. Granted, GC and GWS deserve some time to get off the ground, but that time is running out. Clubs like Melbourne and StKilda on the other hand are frankly a disgrace to the competition at the moment. The Hawks-Saints game a few Friday nights ago was considered one of the most boring Friday night games in a long time. And you wonder why they don't get more Friday night appearances? Obviously not every team can be a top-8 side every year. But if a club ever sinks below around 7 wins for the season, they are in serious trouble. And more often than not its the result of bad decision making at the club in question (case in point: StKilda) Some teams really need to get their acts together.
Mike
Guest
I also missed a lot of footy when I was in Europe for some years... I could often get an internet radio feed but video was out. TV_Land reality: Low viewer movies on ABC and SBS and late at night fillers.
Connor
Guest
I suppose the match will be close, with the kangaroos providing another choke
Australian Rules
Guest
The AFL made it clear with respect to fixturing that teams must "earn" the right to play on the biggest Friday night stage. I agree with that.
Lroy
Guest
Mate... I live in Asia and watch the footy on the ABC Asia pacific network. I already turn the TV off and go for a bike ride whenever the Skodas or Gold Coast Doldrums are on TV... usually these teams are being televised on the Saturday afternoon... which for me is prime time viewing.. Seriously.. if you want to damage the brand any more then sure, put those losers on a Friday night..instead of the Collingwoods, Hawks, Swans etc.... the Friday night games so far have been great, highly enjoyable.. In the old days I would happily plonk down in front of the telly to watch a couple of nuetral sides.. not anymore.. the standard of footy that is being dished up by some sides is embarrasing... if Im forced to watch the Skodas on Friday nights I may as well get back on the grog... (too dangerous to cycle at night here) Frankly, I wish I could get Foxtel.. Id much rather watch the Foxtel cup with WA/SA/Vic club sides than some of the BS that has been served up in the AFL.
Mike
Guest
Yes Timmuh, it is not about best teams or fair spread of these games. It is about how many paying customers will attend along with TV / Foxtel viewer numbers, which drives the advertising revenues, broadcasting rights negotiations etc. But, when North does hit the top and turnstile / viewed numbers rise and are maintained, then their games would also shift I believe. The AFL can be likened to a Coles Supermarket, and the clubs are the products on the shelves. The more sales you generate, the more prominence you receive...
Timmuh
Roar Guru
"The AFL seems to think if sides are good enough they will be rewarded with the time slot, however if not, you will receive none." That could be considered fair enough, except when Collingwood or Carlton are near the bottom of the table they still get Friday night games. And you can bet that if North or Melbourne were near the top they would still get the club-killer Sunday twilight slot.
Mike
Guest
You are would be 100% on the money if the AFL was still a football club association and the welfare and success of all the clubs was paramount. As it is today the AFL has commercial priorities to maximise revenues and profits. Thus a game that would attract 80,000-90,000 fans at the MCG is crammed into the Docklands due to commercial contracts etc. BUT, things could change a bit when the EFC is gutted, leaving a spot on Friday nights and ANZAC day available for the next 3-6 years.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Sad but true. Although I agree that each club should have a crack at Friday night games, but not when the quality of the game is at the level of GWS currently. Friday night football is a cash cow for the AFL, TV and attendances. I think the AFL should look at other matches or dates to share the wealth. For example - Freo v Port in indigenous round seeing as these two clubs have the most indig players in the history of the game on their lists. ANZAC day - having more than just 2 Vic teams playing. No offence but there were plenty of ANZACS in the other states as well. There should be a game in each state on that day so everyone can enjoy.
Peter Care
Guest
The team that should get more Friday night games is North Melbourne; after all they pioneered this timeslot. (I am not a North Melbourne supporter).
Mike
Guest
The AFL is a business, not a charity. The AFL *is* the business. The clubs are franchisees and are licensed by the AFL, allowed to play or exist by the AFL today. Show the AFL a business case to support prime time slot games for your club, and you will have a shot. If you can only show 15,000-35,000 fans at a game then no Friday night games. Show them the pulling power of a packed stadium at 50,000 - 80,000 fans then you have a financial, commercial chance. You could turn up at Brighton BMW with $40,000 and try to convince them that they should give you a go for an M5 at that price? What do you think the response may be? *wink* The AFL is a business, the clubs and games are the product. The paying fans are the consumers. It is as simple as that. Do the numbers.