I’m a traditionalist. There, I’ve said it.
In my previous article I wrote a letter of intent to the AFL to signal my immersion in the game of Australian Rules football. One of the facets that appeals so much is the history and tradition of the game. The AFL’s response, or so it feels, is to take tradition and sell it to the highest bidder.
This week has been littered with rumours that the grand final being moved from its afternoon spot to the twilight. In some ways it doesn’t seem to be too bad an idea. It’s only a couple of hours, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has reasoned. However, it’s a slippery slope of commercialism to drive the game to hell in a Bunnings-sponsored handcart.
AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder has given his approval to the move. Talk of a ‘better spectacle’ and ‘really putting on a show’ seems to disassociate Goyder from the fan-base. The grand final is the spectacle. The finalists are there to put on the show. Half-time entertainment can be a wonderful addition to grand final day, but it should not be its raison d’être.
Fans of EPL will see worrying parallels to the UK and how FA Cup final day traditional had a 3pm kick-off. The erosion started with a tournament sponsor, and then it was moved to a 5pm kick-off. It was totally at the behest of TV and commercial opportunities. Even though fans could be left with several hours of travelling after the game, it was changed anyway. Channel Seven and Foxtel are rumoured to favour a move to a twilight grand final.
The backdrop to this commercially driven administration of the game is the fact that AFL announced a $50.4 million profit for 2018. Revenue was $668 million, up by $17 million, to due to broadcast deals. The AFL will point to $417.3 million in distributions to improve the game. However, $317 million went to AFL clubs, so that somewhat dilutes the distribution number.
Financial stability is at the forefront of the AFL’s strategy, and no-one wants to go back to when mergers were necessary in the 1980s and 1990s, but the financial results tell me that the game is succeeding as it is. I would argue the law of marginal returns for tinkering with start times, finals changes or any other ‘improvements’ suggested.
I didn’t watch the AFLX matches live but did record them to watch this week. Many fans were scathing of it, but I wasn’t so offended by most of what was on offer. However, I did watch it as a standalone game rather than an extension of Australian Rules in the same way that you watch the remake of The Italian Job in isolation and think it’s okay. It’s only when you compare it to the original that you think it’s an aberration and should be erased.
Josh Kennedy of the Eagles. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
One element I found cringe-worthy was the ‘rock, paper, scissors’ game to decide the toss. Some marketing nitwit must have seen the BBL’s bat toss – another aberration, while on the subject – was used as a unique selling point and decided that they needed something similar. Perhaps grand final tosses of the future can be decided by a game of giant Jenga?
Another worrying aspect from this week’s news was that the NRL are considering expanding their finals to ten teams. Worried about the number of ‘dead games’ in August, the NRL are contemplating creating an extra two places in the finals so there is more to play for at the end of the season. It can only be a matter of time, if musings haven’t already been vocalised, that the AFL take a similar line of enquiry. They night as well having all 18 teams in the finals if that’s the case.
If teams are taking it easy because they aren’t in finals contention, it’s the club, not the game, at fault. You’d expect players to be playing for pride, their places in the team, the fans and many other factors. If teams are tanking or not playing at 100 per cent, deal with the clubs involved. In Nick Riewoldt’s book he talks about the post-game debrief and St Kilda players saying whether they were “Saints men” or not. If players aren’t giving 100 per cent all season, they aren’t ‘Aussie Rules men’.
There are many fans out there who are far more emotionally invested that me. I’m just setting out on the journey and I am finding it unnecessary. Like other sports, the key performance indicator for AFL is money. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the broadcasters and the administrators.
However, there is another stakeholder that needs a say: the fans. A quick look at the social media thread would show the AFL what fans think of a twilight grand final. But that won’t increase financial performance to meet the 2019 strategic objectives though, will it?
Scott
Guest
I wish the AFL spent as much time pondering over whether it’s a good idea to add a bunch of new rules every year, as they have over this decision. It’s amazing that this is the thing they are deciding to be patient about. 2 hours on grand final day means squat compared to creating a game that will have over 1000 rules within our lifetime.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I'd love a night GF.
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
The AFL Grand Final is the master showpiece for the greatest football gave on the planet. It must be aired in prime time - the evening. What's wrong with a DAY Grand Final? 1. Most viewers of the GF are NOT at the 'G'. They are watching on TV so the best TV time with the biggest global audience is the only way to go. 2. Day-time viewing on TV is frustrating with the game going IN and OUT of shadows and sunlight, often missing a second or two of vital action while the cameras try to adjust. 3. Tradition is fine when it works. When it doesn't, change it. In a digital era, a day GF doesn't work, spoils the magnificence of the occasion and detracts from showing the best game in the best conditions for the millions who cannot be at the 'G'. Sufficient tradition is to keep it at the 'G' as the premier sport stadium in the country.
WCE
Roar Rookie
same story , just like state of origin, every single year with the same results bla bla bla bla... it will never be anything but daytime GF and state of origin died years ago , move on for once
michael RVC
Roar Pro
That and the significant damage done by softening the previous CEO's brilliant work in developing the AFL as a national comp. Seems he is a Melb blue blood and will never see this comp as truely national and equitable. I agree, let's see the back of him and bring in someone like Ireland.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Gil's legacy will be one of a CEO who floats ill conceived ideas in the media to gauge public reaction. He is inconsistent and too easily led by his marketing department who seem detached from what makes our game so special. I personally can't wait for him to go as he's not the right bloke in charge.
Aus in Engerland
Guest
Edit - For pedantic sake, UEFA Categories do have a size requirement (8000), but this is so low it is not one of the factors in choosing a venue.
Aus in Engerland
Guest
The biggest club tournament in the world (UEFA Champions League) changes venue every year. The final must be played in a Category 4 stadium which has a lot of requirements, capacity NOT being one them. In 2014 (Lisbon) and 2018 (Kiev) the crowds were in the 60-61K size. They don't even necessarily use the largest stadium in a host city; 2019 using the Atletico stadium rather than the much larger Real one for example. The SuperBowl also changes venue each year. This does have a minimum stadium size of 70K. So it is not unreasonable to suggest that an AFL Grand Final stadium restriction of say 50K would be an issue. That would still limit it to only three venues anyway. And your comment 'and the 40000 who have to spend a weekend in Perth wondering what the frug to do after the GF' is pretty insulting, offensive and inward navel gazing. And Perth is now a significant city of 2 Million people; bigger than Manchester, Lisbon or Barcelona. There are things to do, places to hang out and party.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Leave it at 12.30 WA time and get rid of the ridiculous circus act called AFLX , the players arnt 6 years old
lroy
Guest
there is something to be said for day games. Tradition may not mean any thing to you soy drinkers, but it means something to the rest of us. Go watch rugby or netball but leave OUR game alone.
IAP
Guest
Why do the AFL go through this every year? Do they not realise how drunk everyone will be by 5pm? No one will actually watch the game. Leave as is; sone traditions are more important than more money to waste on Gil’s pay packet.
anon
Roar Pro
2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon is a bad time for the showcase match of the season. Times have changed. Stores don't close at 12pm on a Saturday, pubs don't close at 6pm, people are busier than ever before and have more entertainment options. It really doesn't affect me because I'll watch it regardless, but make a decision for crying out loud. Every year they go through this same charade of buttering up the public for a night Grand Final only no to have the guts to follow through with a decision that they will inevitably make. Makes Gill look even weaker and even more wishy washy than he already is.
Rob
Guest
Except the 40000 who wont get in because the GF is played in a smaller stadium, and the 40000 who have to spend a weekend in Perth wondering what the frug to do after the GF - other than those 80000 yeah i cant see anyone having a problem.
Gary
Roar Rookie
TBF, the AFL is a professional competition, and has been for a long time. There are plenty of amateur competitions that are not subject to the same commercial demands. There never used to be night games... now, a 3rd of games are played at night. It is such a non issue playing the game later in the day. If they played the GF at Perth Stadium, the game would be played during daylight hours, and broadcast at twilight on the eastern seaboard. Win/win. This would be the best solution... I can't see anyone taking issue with this.