Melburnians love sport in general, but it’s football that’s in our blood, whether we’re one of 100,000 people packed into the MCG grandstands on grand final day, on the grass banks in the bush or in the burbs supporting the game’s grassroots.
Aussie Rules football is Australia’s biggest and most prominent sport, and the AFL grand final is the pinnacle of our great game. That said, the great thing isn’t just reaching that day in September; it’s winning footy’s ultimate prize: the flag and the AFL premiership cup.
All of the 121 VFL/AFL grand finals played over 117 years have been played during a daytime timeslot, but that tradition appears to be on the outer, with particular pressure from broadcasters, sponsors and the entertainment factor driving the campaign for a twilight or night match.
I love footy. I am a passionate member of the Gold Coast Suns and love everything about our great game, from the big time in the AFL to the grassroots that I have been part of for more than a decade as a player and, more recently, as a coach.
Changing the grand final to a night match will have a disastrous effect on our game at both the AFL and the grassroots level, and the AFL should never forget that the supporters at the grassroots make up our great game.
I oppose and would hate a move for the grand final to finish in the evening. It doesn’t sit right with me. But what are my reasons? Why am I so against a trial of night-time grand final?
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
The Herald Sun and the AFL Players Association run a players survey annually, and this year they asked, “What is your preferred AFL grand final timeslot?”.
The result was that 75 per cent of players supported the grand final remaining in the current afternoon timeslot, the same figure returned by the 2017 survey. Only 22 per cent preferred a twilight grand final, and three per cent wanted a night-time match.
The AFL needs to take this opposition into account when considering a change to the grand final starting time.
The same thing goes for the AFL State of Origin – if the players want something, the AFL should listen. It would make the players happier, which would then result in them being more willing to promote the game as ambassadors for the AFL.
In 2016, when the Western Bulldogs broke their premiership drought, stand-in skipper Easton Wood said that he wants the grand final to remain during the day because it’s what all players grew up with and it has a sense of tradition attached to it. If the majority of the players want it to happen, that’s something the AFL should think about before making major decisions that will have significant impacts on the game.
The AFL should also consider the effects of grassroots football. Local clubs and supporters will be disadvantaged by a night-time grand final because many host functions during the day. They’re real family affairs, but they wouldn’t be able to hold those picnics and lunches if the big dance were to start at night.
The AFL mustn’t forget kids, either, who love footy. I have experienced this firsthand through coaching football. They want to watch the biggest game of the season, and it would be a shame if they had to miss even part of it because it finished late in the evening.
(Alexander Sheko/Wikimedia Commons)
Tradition is a key reason for the grand final to stay as it is. Every first and second-tier grand final has been played during the day in the history of the AFL, including the AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW, WAFL, SANFL, NEAFL, TSL et cetera.
As Easton Wood said in regard to the players survey, “Players have grown up with the traditional timeslot and there’s certainly an element of nostalgia attached to a warm September day and a red Sherrin,” and though he added that players would obviously be happy to play in the grand final regardless, that tradition shouldn’t be discounted.
The AFL is made for the daytime. It just feels awesome when the sun shining down across the MCG and that red footy, the style used from the first-ever VFL game, is bounced by the umpire to officially open the match. It gives everyone goosebumps.
Football is played with a better and grander quality during the day. I have seen this firsthand this year with the Gold Coast Suns. We play lots of twilight and night games, and when the dew sets in, the footy is bad to watch. The grand final is broadcast into many countries around the globe, and we should be showcasing the best of our game, but players fumbling the ball sells our game badly.
The AFL grand final is a full day. It starts early in the morning with the North Melbourne grand final breakfast, continues with pre-match activities and events around and inside the MCG, and then the grand final kicks off at 2:30pm every year. The presentations are finished by 6pm, and then the premiers return to the stage for the premiership party held inside the MCG, a free event for all supporters to celebrate the victory and a wonderful season.
I’m a proud fan, a member of the Gold Coast Suns and a supporter of the ongoing and lasting legacy football has made to our wonderful nation. I love Australia, and we have such a proud sporting history – and I would hate for this to be tarnished by moving the AFL grand final into the night-time despite its traditions.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Who cares what overseas people think about a score review. I'd rather a flag not be decided on a goal umpire error.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Agree with you 100%, Lynton. Tradition has a lot going for it & Superbowl is a modern innovation. Soccer's biggest Grand Final, the FA Cup, is still played in the afternoon.
Radar
Guest
Are you twelve? Ossie? You're worried about what someone overseas thinks of the rules of 'Aussie' rules? It will be the most watched event of that weekend day or night so the cold light of day is most certainly preferable, which the author rightly pointed out will ensure more skillful play. Maybe they'll hit the post less. Come back when you can construct a rational argument.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
Interestingly enough Channel 7 have said previously that their ratings for a twilight/night GF and what they can charge for advertising wouldn't significantly increase above what it currently is. Also the NRL GF doesn't out-rate the AFL but has gone close previously but I suggest that's because Victoria probably rates higher for NRL than AFL does in NSW & QLD.
gurudoright
Roar Rookie
I agree with your comment that the NRL grand final being play at twilight/night is a tragedy. The first few night GF was exciting and new but a number of things became apparent. The quality of play is now worse as their is more dew on the ball at night time compared to the afternoon. A lot of kids ( the games future) are too tired to watch the big game as it doesn’t finish until later then their bed time. The day just drags on, some say it builds anticipation and excitement but seriously, by 5pm most people are over the wait. I may not be the biggest AFL fan but I implore all fans of the big day in either code to push for day GF. Once it’s gone, there is too much money and pressure to take it back.
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
A night GF is a card held by the AFL for the next round of TV contract negotiations. I think it will be used to garner greater TV contract revenue.
Murray Ridsdale
Guest
What a load of rubbish to keep the AFL GF on at 2:30pm if we Ossie rules lovers want the game to progress it has to move time slot, the warm Sept day in Melbourne you would have to be joking just you wait and see how warm it is on Saturday afternoon, people this not just a game its entertainment if it was just a game you wouldn't have 18 teams in the competition, it has to move besides the fireworks always look better at night than in the day, the only thing we get embarrassed about is some of our stupid rules like the hit the post rule how does a person sitting back watching the game from overseas think when the umpires call for countless replays to see if the ball hit the post, move or be left in the cold light of day.
dbjm
Guest
I used to have the same opinion, but converted after watching the Superbowl and seeing a night game at Optus this year. The potential entertainment value and spectacle that is added by having the game at night is enormous and cant be understated. I get your point about night games being harder for familes, but even a twightlight game would be a massive step in the right direction
Taubada
Guest
I have great respect for the passion displayed in this article - although in contrast to the author I have little interest Aussie Rules. But the arguments and principles laid out are supported completely and I mirror them in respect of the NRL GF. It is a tragedy that the NRL GF is played at night, purely on the dictate of Channel 9 and to make matters worse the game is played at an unsuitable venue being the Olympic Stadium. The afternoon GF in Sydney was a loved institution and tradition vandalised by the weak state of the administration and corporate greed.
mds1970
Roar Guru
One minor correction. "Every first and second-tier grand final has been played during the day in the history of the AFL, including the AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW, WAFL, SANFL, NEAFL, TSL et cetera." The 2017 NEAFL Grand Final was a night game. It was played at the SCG after the Swans v Essendon Elimination Final. It went back to being a stand-alone daytime game this year. I doubt it will change under the current TV rights contract; but I fully expect the price to pay to get the contract closer to $3b for the next round of TV rights is a twilight Grand Final. As a Saturday afternoon game, the AFL Grand Final is often out-rated by the NRL's Sunday night Grand Final. To justify getting double the TV revenue, that can't continue; and so the AFL will inevitably move to a higher-rating timeslot. And it wouldn't worry me if the Grand Final became a twilight game. Times change, traditions change. The world moves on.