This article continues my series of monthly updates on the ratings and attendances of club football games in Australia across all four codes.
April saw the first four rounds of the AFL for season 2015 and the last four rounds of the A-League’s regular season.
I set the Fox ratings cut-off at 150k and 44 games rated above that benchmark. No A-League or Super Rugby games made the benchmark.
The NRL took the top two spots in the ratings, with the Round 7 Monday night game between Cronulla and Souths rating the highest (338k) followed by the Round 6 Monday night game between Souths and North Queensland (325k).
There’s no doubting that Monday nights continue to be a ratings winner for the NRL. The Round 5 Monday night game between Penrith and North Queensland came in seventh with 280k.
The NRL also took fourth and fifth positions with ratings above 300k (the Storm versus the Warriors and the Eels versus the Tigers), rounding out seven of the top 10 positions.
The AFL’s highest rating game was the opening round clash between the Sydney Swans and Essendon (309k). The Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood came in sixth with (296k).
Other notable results for the AFL were the opening round clash between Melbourne and the Suns with 253k, the opening round clash between Freo and Port with 246k; and the Round 3 all Sydney affair between the Swans and Giants: 192k.
The attendances for April went the other way, with the AFL taking the top 12 spots. Unsurprisingly, the Anzac Day game between Essendon and Collingwood had the highest attendance (88,395) while the next highest was the opening round game between Carlton and Richmond (83,493).
Other games deserving a special mention were Richmond versus Melbourne with 58,175 (5th highest), with the strong hint that this might become a regular fixture. Also, the Port Adelaide versus Hawthorn match pulled 50,675 (6th highest), testing the capacity of the revamped Adelaide Oval.
The NRL’s highest attended game was the Round 5 game between Canterbury-Bankstown and Souths (40,523) at ANZ Stadium, coming in at 13th highest overall.
The Broncos are no strangers to big crowds, and their Round 6 game against the Roosters saw 35,630 in attendance, the 16th highest overall.
Two more NRL games followed with attendances over 35,000:
* the round 5 game between Parramatta and Wests (35,510); and
* the Anzac Day clash between the Roosters and the Dragons (35,110).
Also in Brisbane, the Reds got the highest attendance in Super Rugby (of the Australian sides) with last weekend’s game against the Hurricanes bringing in 26,374 (26th highest overall).
The Victory flew the flag for the A-League and made two entries in our list. First was last weekend’s final round game against the Mariners which pulled 22,285 and also decided the Premier’s Plate. Then was the Round 25 game against the Jets with 19,915.
It’s worth mentioning that the Victory have finished the 2014-15 season with an average home attendance of around 25k, which is a great achievement. It puts them alongside some of the smaller Melbourne AFL teams.
TV Ratings
1. Cronulla versus Souths: 338
2. Souths versus North Queensland: 325
3. Sydney Swans versus Essendon: 309
4. Melbourne Storm versus New Zealand Warriors: 306
5. Parramatta versus Wests Tigers: 304
6. Essendon versus Collingwood: 296
7. Penrith versus North Queensland: 280
8. Hawthorn versus Geelong: 270
9. Melbourne Storm versus Sydney Roosters: 260
10. Brisbane Broncos versus Parramatta: 259
11. Collingwood versus Adelaide Crows: 257
12. Carlton versus Richmond: 253
13. Melbourne Demons versus Gold Coast Suns: 253
14. Fremantle versus Port Adelaide: 246
15. Collingwood versus St Kilda: 241
16. West Coast Eagles versus Carlton: 237
17. Penrith versus Manly: 233
18. Newcastle Knights versus St George Illawarra: 232
19. North Queensland versus New Zealand Warriors: 230
20. New Zealand Warriors versus Wests Tigers: 219
21. Richmond versus Melbourne: 217
22. Geelong versus Fremantle: 214
23. Port Adelaide versus Sydney Swans: 211
24. Manly versus Canberra Raiders: 210
25. Adelaide Crows versus North Melbourne: 208
26. Parramatta versus Gold Coast Titans: 205
27. North Melbourne versus Port Adelaide: 203
28. Port Adelaide versus Hawthorn: 201
29. St Kilda versus Carlton: 200
30. Hawthorn versus Western Bulldogs: 199
31. Fremantle versus Sydney Swans: 196
32. Essendon versus Hawthorn: 195
33. Melbourne Storm versus Manly: 193
34. Sydney Swans versus GWS Giants: 192
35. Newcastle Knights versus North Queensland: 183
36. Penrith versus Cronulla: 175
37. Canberra Raiders versus Melbourne Storm: 174
38. Wests Tigers versus Canberra Raiders: 173
39. GWS Giants versus Gold Coast Suns: 161
40. St Kilda versus GWS Giants: 159
41. Carlton versus Essendon: 158
42. West Coast Eagles versus Fremantle: 156
43. Western Bulldogs versus Adelaide Crows: 152
44. Geelong versus Gold Coast Suns: 151Attendances
1. Essendon versus Collingwood: 88,395
2. Carlton versus Richmond: 83,493
3. Hawthorn versus Geelong: 73,584
4. Essendon versus Hawthorn: 59,886
5. Richmond versus Melbourne Demons: 58,175
6. Carlton versus Essendon: 54,854
7. Port Adelaide versus Hawthorn: 50,675
8. Richmond versus Western Bulldogs: 49,945
9. Port Adelaide versus Sydney Swans: 49,765
10. Adelaide Crows versus North Melbourne: 46,491
11. Collingwood versus St Kilda: 45,197
12. Adelaide Crows versus Melbourne Demons: 43,713
13. Canterbury-Bankstown versus Souths: 40,523
14. West Coast Eagles versus Fremantle: 39,138
15. Fremantle versus Sydney Swans: 39,009
16. Brisbane Broncos versus Sydney Roosters: 35,630
17. Parramatta versus Wests Tigers: 35,510
18. Sydney Roosters versus St George Illawarra: 35,110
19. West Coast Eagles versus Carlton: 34,588
20. Brisbane Broncos versus Parramatta: 34,398
21. Fremantle versus North Melbourne: 34,099
22. Collingwood versus Adelaide Crows: 33,771
23. Sydney Swans versus GWS Giants: 31,966
24. Brisbane Lions versus Collingwood: 31,240
25. Melbourne Demons versus Gold Coast Suns: 27,013
26. Queensland Reds versus Hurricanes: 26,374
27. Geelong versus Fremantle: 23,723
28. Geelong versus North Melbourne: 23,452
29. Sydney Swans versus Essendon: 23,274
30. North Melbourne versus Port Adelaide: 22,586
31. Brisbane Lions versus Richmond: 22,441
32. Western Bulldogs versus West Coast Eagles: 22,366
33. Melbourne Victory versus Central Coast Mariners: 22,285
34. North Melbourne versus Brisbane Lions: 22,275
35. Geelong versus Gold Coast Suns: 20,813
36. St George Illawarra versus Canterbury-Bankstown: 20,273
37. Western Bulldogs versus Adelaide: 19,915
38. Melbourne Victory versus Newcastle Jets: 19,277
39. St Kilda versus GWS Giants: 18,794
40. Canterbury-Bankstown versus Wests Tigers: 18,521
41. Melbourne Storm versus New Zealand Warriors: 18,179
Baz
Guest
You had blokes in your cheer squads 50 years ago??? Very progressive.
Baz
Guest
Well, there's not a hell of a lot else to do there so why wouldn't they?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The A-League match was a semi final local derby. Regular season match ups are hardly as important. Also this was the first brisbane game all year to be less than the mid thirties. Probably due to Penrith being a low draw for crowds or because of the many people in brisbane affected by floods last week.
Tony
Guest
That is a very interesting article, Mr F. After I left school 50 years ago I started attending SANFL games. There were always large numbers of women of all ages attending - usually more vocal & vehement than the men! The Cheer squads were 50/50 guys & girls. Last night I caught the tram from St Kilda to the MCG. A few Collingwood supporters were on board (wouldn't expect many on that tram route) & all were 50/50 male & female. At one stop a group of Melbourne Victory supporters got on - 7 men, 1 woman & a kid who was overacting. Goodness knows what he was like during the game! In Flinders St the trams were packed, mainly with C/wood supporters. The few Geelong supporters were better dressed & had all their teeth! There were the usual groups of men - but also groups of older women with their daughters & grand-kids, younger women & couples (mainly baby-boomers & Gen X). At the 'G there was a predominance of young families with kids as well as teenage girls in groups. In the dining rooms & bars it was 60/40 male-female. The highlight from a spectator point of view was a group of C/wood supporters behind me - 3 woman, 1 man - in their 40's. One smartly dressed woman was not only talking about the footy, but also what she had planned for the w/e, clothes, cooking, etc. She mentioned she was going to the opera - to which the male responded, "Nice to know one Collingwood supporter has culture"! Ironically, I had been to Madama Butterfly last week :-)
Gyfox
Guest
I think any argument about attendances was well & truly answered last night. Melbourne: AFL 52,000. A-league 50,000. Rugby 10,000. Sydney: NRL 14,000 Brisbane: NBRL 24,000 All these games were equally important. It certainly proves that Melbourne is the sports capital of Australia. Sydney can't even fill a 50,000 seat stadium! Also significant is the crowd in Brisbane. It's a 1-team city, twice the size of Adelaide, drawing just 24,000 to their great NRL team. On Sunday Port Adelaide will get twice that attendance & Fremantle will also get a far bigger attendance in Perth tonight.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
As an aside, this is an interesting article on the attendance at the footy by females, how females have driven much of the growth in attendances over the last 20 years, and how they will continue to contribute to growth going forward: http://theconversation.com/female-fans-are-afls-secret-weapon-in-drawing-crowds-41173
Greg trilby
Guest
Wow, certainly very telling figures
Norman
Guest
Mr Football - I have just read a Fox Sports article online about TV viewing for the past month. The headline was "Brisbane Broncos drawing huge TV audiences". What it revealed was that nationally 9 of the top 10 capital city programmes (both FTA & Fox) were AFL telecasts. The 10th was Broncos vs Roosters with 691,000. When you add in NSW & Qld Regionals the figure was over 1 mill. More interesting is that the only other Qld football team to get in the top 20 nationally was the GC Suns, with 717,000 for their Geelong game last week.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Norman Keeping tabs on Fox tv ratings and attendances is enough for me! I've been listening to the Coodabeens for over 20 years (I think they have been going for something like 35 years). I agree with your sentiments. These days I download the podcast and listen to it with great enthusiasm. I love it.
Norman
Guest
The reason Melbourne clubs plays at the MCG every week (apart from it being Australia's biggest stadium) is because 50 years ago the VFL clubs got sick of playing in suburban grounds controlled by cricket clubs that couldn't cater for the huge crowds who wanted to attend games. Collingwood was the last club to move from its suburban home & now averages home crowds of over 50,000. In Sydney NRL clubs still play at various suburban grounds, so I guess it is not a problem there.
Gyfox
Guest
That is a stupid comment from Kirk. It applies equally to Sydney NRL crowds playing at Homebush/Allianz. Of course Melbourne clubs don't play at the MCG every week. But it is where they get the 60,000-90,000 crowds.
Tony
Guest
The good citizens of Geelong would disagree with you, Jeremy!
Norm
Guest
Oh, yes, Jeremy - rather bizarre that football is played on a big oval field with lots of space for athletic prowess. Very Australian, really :-)
Jeremy
Guest
Why does everyone in NRL want to ruin Origin? http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/melbourne-storms-ponissi-calls-on-nrl-for-stateoforigin-rethink-20150502-1myhx3.html Plus why do NRL stories not even know that Origin is watched in England? "While origin has become a ratings giant and is starting to attract international TV attention"
Jeremy
Guest
Relic of British colonialism? You mean like the Melbourne CRICKET Ground.
Jeremy
Guest
FTA would favor NRL as NSW and QLD have big regional populations. AFL has three cities and that's all.
duecer
Guest
Did a quick summary of last full week Mon - Sunday and was surprised at the result - 418k more watching AFL on pay tv and 726 more watching AFL on FTA (although a minefield as haven't included 7mate, gem etc as they are hard to find and of course the oft debated regionals). Whether the figures would be closer if the NRL had all games on Fox, or whether they would be diluted by having all games is another question. 1 LIVE: NRL PANTHERS V SHARKS FOX SPORTS 1 175000 2 LIVE: AFL BULLDOGS V ADELAIDE FOX FOOTY 152000 3 LIVE: AFL GEELONG V NORTH MELB FOX SPORTS 3 146000 4 LIVE: AFL BRISBANE V WEST COAST FOX FOOTY 132000 1 LIVE: AFL ESSENDON V COLLINGWOOD FOX FOOTY 296000 2 LIVE: NRL BRONCOS V EELS FOX SPORTS 1 259000 3 LIVE: AFL PORT ADEL V HAWTHORN FOX SPORTS 3 201000 4 LIVE: AFL ST KILDA V CARLTON FOX FOOTY 200000 5 LIVE: AFL FREMANTLE V SYDNEY FOX FOOTY 196000 6 LIVE: NRL STORM V SEA EAGLES FOX SPORTS 1 193000 8 LIVE: NRL KNIGHTS V COWBOYS FOX SPORTS 1 183000 9 LIVE: AFL GWS V GOLD COAST FOX FOOTY 161000 10 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V TITANS FOX SPORTS 1 135000 1 LIVE: AFL RICHMOND V MELBOURNE FOX FOOTY 217000 1 LIVE: NRL SHARKS V RABBITOHS FOX SPORTS 1 338000 TOTAL 1701000 1283000 SEVEN’S AFL: SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL Network 7 523000 SUNDAY AFTERNOON NRL LIVE Network 9 475000 SEVEN’S AFL: ANZAC DAY FOOTBALL Network 7 758000 ANZAC DAY NRL -LIVE Network 9 472000 SEVEN’S AFL: SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Network 7 450000 FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE Network 9 555000 SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Network 7 497000 TOTAL 2228000 1502000
JayBob
Guest
Yeh the 9 AFL games on Fox are diluting the ratings, because people who have Fox don't watch FTA at all right? The 3 FTA NRL games would have no effect on the Fox ratings because they are totally independent of each other and people only watch either Fox or FTA. Lol
tony
Guest
Hey, Kirk - that's just like that relic of British Colonialism, SOO. NSW v Qld, Qld v NSW, NSW v Qld, etc, etc. And we even have a game at the 'G this year!
Norman
Guest
MrF - am just wondering if you would consider doing a similar report with regard to radio? Also, am listening to Coodabeens right now & wonder if NRL has a similar programme? They are a wonderful example of Australian Football culture (not just AFL) & also Aussie humour.