A push from AFL broadcasters for a regular twilight grand final is expected to gather steam after record-low ratings accompanied a return to the traditional afternoon timeslot.
Geelong thrashed Sydney in the first season decider played in Melbourne for three years, following two seasons affected by the global pandemic.
It started at 2:30pm (AEST) and bombed on the box, with OzTam ratings released on Sunday showing 2.179 million viewers across the five major metropolitan markets.
The figure was well down on last year’s number, when 3.006 million watched the twilight grand final played in Perth, which was broadcast in prime time in the big east coast markets.
It is also a huge drop from 2020, when 2.979 million watched the night grand final played in Brisbane.
Some factors in this year’s lower numbers include fans flocking back to public venues in Melbourne and watching in large groups after two years spent in and out of lockdown.
The one-sided contest may also have played a role in viewers tuning out, with Geelong surging to a commanding 35-point lead by quarter-time.
The result was effectively put to bed when the Cats kicked six unanswered goals during the third quarter.
Channel Seven managing director James Warburton told The Age while the network would support the AFL’s choice of timeslot for the grand final, the ratings speak for themselves.
“We will always support the decisions the AFL makes for the fans,” Warburton said.
“The numbers and comparisons are clear for all to see to support a prime-time AFL grand final.
“It’s a national game and a twilight or prime-time bounce will maximise the audience for the code.”
Regardless of the ratings, Geelong premiership midfielder Cam Guthrie said he would like to see the grand final remain in the traditional timeslot at the MCG.
“Saturday arvo at the MCG is pretty special,” Guthrie told reporters on Sunday.
“We got the full experience this year being down in Melbourne and yeah, it was amazing.”
The ratings disaster came despite the AFL’s huge outlay on luring UK pop icon Robbie Williams to Melbourne to spearhead a successful grand final entertainment show with Australia’s Delta Goodrem.
(with AAP)
Robbie Williams performs before the 2022 AFL Grand Final. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Grand final shocker sparks concerns over Buddy
Lance Franklin’s quiet grand final in Sydney’s 81-point loss to Geelong has sparked concerns leading into what looms as his final AFL season in 2022.
Franklin managed just nine possessions and was held goalless by Cat Jack Henry in the Swans’ resounding defeat, having signed a one-year contract during grand final week.
It was the second of three finals this year Franklin has gone without a goal, having booted at least one in all 20 home-and-away matches he played.
In the qualifying final against Melbourne, he was soundly thrashed by Demons star Steven May, managing just two kicks among seven possessions while May secured the maximum 10 Gary Ayres Medal votes.
“Two of his worst games in the whole of his career have come in this finals series,” Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes told The Sunday Footy Show.
“Firstly, he was badly beaten against Steven May, and yesterday he just had the butter-fingers early.
“[He] wasn’t reading the ball in flight… whilst there wasn’t a whole lot of opportunity for him, he’s clearly not the same player that he was.”
Former sharpshooter Matthew Lloyd is of the opinion Franklin needs to change his game to remain impactful in 2023, saying he ‘has to play like a key forward’ to avoid his incredible career fizzling out.
“Leigh Matthews made a great point after the game when he said that his athleticism has allowed him to play as a running, mobile forward, but he hasn’t got that anymore,” Lloyd said.
“He has to play like a key forward for the rest of his career, and that’s not what he is.
“[Geelong] played Jack Henry on him, who’s got the mobility to go with him, but then he hasn’t got the aerial ability.
“It’s going to be a real challenge for him next year.
“He has to play like a Jonathan Brown or a [Wayne] Carey in his last year, which he isn’t, because he can’t move like he used to.”
Franklin currently sits fifth for most VFL/AFL goals with a whopping 1047, including 52 in 2022 – his 13th season with at least 50 majors.
He’ll need 11 goals to surpass former North Melbourne and Geelong forward Doug Wade into outright fourth on the list, but third-placed Jason Dunstall (1254 goals) appears out of reach.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Crows’ break AFLW margin record with brutal thumping of hapless Giants
Adelaide have bounced back into premiership contention with the biggest win in AFLW history – a 96-point demolition job on hapless GWS at Unley Oval.
The Crows also registered their highest-ever score in the 15.7 (97) to 0.1 (1) victory, while the Giants’ meagre tally was the equal lowest in the competition’s seven-year history.
Melbourne set the biggest winning margin record at 88 points by beating Fremantle earlier in the season and the Crows surged past it with onballer Anne Hatchard’s third goal in the last quarter.
It seemed the outclassed Giants would face the ignominy of a scoreless game, but Meghan Gaffney finally put them on the scoreboard by snapping a behind seconds before the three-quarter time siren.
The Crows’ massive win was built on the midfield monopoly of Ebony Marinoff, with 36 possessions, and Hatchard, with 28, backed by captain Chelsea Randall with 21 touches.
That midfield domiance helped key forward McKenzie Dowrick kick four goals, equalling the club’s record of most goals in a game.
Giants captain Alicia Eva fought bravely in what was her 50th game, as did midfielder Alyce Parker and defender Tarni Evans.
But the visitors were simply no match for Adelaide who pounded out an emphatic signal that they are right back in premiership contention with their fourth consecutive win.
Among the Adelaide goalkickers was first-gamer and former junior Matilda Jess Waterhouse, the niece of ex-Fremantle AFL player Clive Waterhouse.
“Obviously, it’s great to make my debut in my first year,” she said.
“I haven’t been playing footy that long and it’s amazing to play in a premiership side. It’s hard to crack into a team like that.
“I’m so proud of the depth we have in the squad and that (win) just shows that we’re ready to go again this year.
“I played for Australia in soccer and saw the girls having a good time at the Crows and then thought I’d give it a crack and here I am.”
(with AAP)
O M
Roar Rookie
Ninthton, of course! :stoked:
theirishman
Roar Rookie
Who finished 9th this year? Whose supporters were satisfied with a 9th finish?
Micko
Roar Rookie
People do watch, that's the point. You're presumably in an absolutely tiny minority of people who would be willing to boycott watching the live broadcast because you don't like the ads.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Obsessed, this time of year, it is tempting to be flippant and a smartasss. My pessimistic analysis of Richmond was probably as wrong as your positive one. To paraphrase Naughties Headband, we are all just nuffies. If there is a valid point or strategy, the coaches worked it out ten weeks before us. The Tiger first premiership this century predates me on this site. I will say I was surprised as I bet you were. 2019 I Certainly didn't underestimate them. 2020 I was surprised but who knew in that season. Richmond were actually very active pushing the old players out the door this season. Edwards, Caddy and Lambert. Jack Riewoldt needs a push. Against decent opponents, he is just jumping on people and hoping for free kick gifts. Prestia, not as old as some but is injury prone. He needs to go. Cochin could probably do a Selwood managed final year. He was good the latter part of this year. I will say that losing by a goal every game seems to indicate a side that cannot physically last the full game. Letting Mabior Chol, Callum Coleman-Jones was not good. Especially when you get Tarrant in return. Some of the coach's pets need delisting. Castagna and Aarts. McIntosh was also at the departure lounge but has stepped up. A bit like my bad Guthrie (He came good). I thought Soldo was old but it seems not. Richmond has won three premierships on their game plan. That is exception and unusual. But now it has been "cracked" by the decent sides. Even Gold Coast and Brisbane have your number. You need a new one. Hardwick admitted as much. Reverting to the old one to slip into the eight won't win a premiership. I think they will do something over summer. Hardwick needs to. Melbourne and Collingwood borrow from your plan (even the Cats have) but they are markedly different. All is not bad news. I said Lynch needed to earn his wage. He did and hopefully still will. Bolten is a star. He is probably going for too much and not getting all the results. He is young and he will get better. The couple of young midfielders to replace Prestia and ultimately Cochin (maybe even Dusty, nobody knows what his future is) will be useful. There is plenty of unproven talent that can step up. I have no idea how Sonsie and Rioli will turn out. I am probably a bit more hesitant about Sydney Stack and Pickett. As for the Cats, the second barrel in the shotgun is loaded. Just pull the trigger. The biggest risk is other teams work out the game plan and put strategies into place. All the best Yatz.
Al
Guest
The Swans are an AFL team, not an NRL team, they are what was spoken about. It's not that hard.
1dawg
Roar Rookie
24 hours of editing.... Nice reply.
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
I thought about getting up and doing something else but early in the third quarter I realised that this was an awesome performance by Geelong and so I stayed and had to applaud. Chris Scott deserved this one. They’re hard to win. Ask Horse, who has jagged a tight one and copped two beltings and one that was one sided at the end. Those two coaches are the embodiment of how difficult it is.
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
You do realise that the advertisers wont want to advertise if no one is watching in the first place. It’s a fine line. Whether I do or do not care is exactly the point if I’m representative of the market, to whom advertisers may seek to influence. If we’re not watching, we’re not watching.
1dawg
Roar Rookie
How bout them Cats? Impressive win :thumbup: The Tigers bunnies won the flag because the Tigers failed again. Go Cats :stoked:
O M
Roar Rookie
I respect you for your article writing and attempts at understanding the Tigers but, and I’m not being deliberately facetious, I just don’t rate your analysis of the Tigers. You just don’t seem to really see them, you never have. All 3 of their recent Premierships seemed to have taken you by surprise. “Triple premiership players asking for their reward” Which ones? I’d say most of the Players, including Dusty, in the last decade have accepted less than what they could have got at other Clubs to stay at Tigerland. “old players not retiring” Once again, which ones? I can’t name one Player in the last 2 years who has stayed longer than they should have or the Club wanted them to. Cotchin & Reiwoldt have both been asked by the Club to stay on one more year and at a significantly reduced rate to enable us to bring Taranto & Hopper. They both had fantastic years in 2022 and will obviously play reduced games in 2023 but will fill roles when required and help bring along the talented youth already at the club. “young talent exiting” No club is able to hang onto all their talent. If there’s no opportunity and another Club is willing to pay overs to poach them there’s not much that can be done. Look at Geelong with Kelly & Clarke. “coaches clinging to old game plans.” This is probably your biggest furphy when it come to the Tiges. I’ve seen Cameron here, refute you several times throughout the year when you went down that path. Hardwick talked about how the Tigers came into the Season with changed up game plan which just wasn’t working. About Round 6 they moved back something closer to their usual gameplan and I think from that point we didn’t lose a game by more than a goal? We also finished the year with the highest aggregate score. Not one reputable commentator or expert criticized or lamented Richmond’s 2022 gameplan. In fact a recurring point that was made is how Richmondy the Pies under McCrae looked and Melbourne’s gameplan has consistently been compared the the Tigers. In the end, the gameplan was not the issue. Defense was. There were so many examples of poor defense throughout the season that const them games. The Henry mark, the Zurhar goal, the Daniher goal, just to name a couple of examples should never have been allowed to happen. That is one area that they do need to fix but I think they can. Gibcus & Miller are coming along nicely and combined with Balta, Grimes Vlastuin, Broad, Rioli etc is still capable. Although I would love it if they could pick up one more key defender. There is no drop coming at Richmond. The core of talent in their 20s combined with exciting youth, established match winners and the addition of Hopper & Taranto will keep the Tigers firmly in contention for the foreseeable future.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Until 5 days ago; with enormous resources, no competition from any other major sport, a huge diehard supporter base & no possible excuses, Geelong had only made 1 GF appearance in the last 10 years for no premierships. If you want to view the situation with no peripheral vision & by that fact alone, they would be viewed as an underperforming club. The Swans had played in 3 GFs for 1 premiership victory in that time. So, anyone judging the Swans achievements by saying “no flags for the Swans since signing Big Bud” is doing the same thing. It is a lot more logical to look at all the factors before issuing a pass / fail mark. If you rate them as a failure, I suggest you loosen the grip & get both hands back on the keyboard.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You're the one doing the trolling.
1dawg
Roar Rookie
You seem like you've been around awhile for a new rookie... :laughing:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Good to see Freo...and I...continue to dominate your thinking. For a new boy on The Roar, you became obsessed with me really quickly. Happy to keep adding interest to your spring and summer.
theirishman
Roar Rookie
Ya lucky you didn't get the famous Cat (eyeroll).
theirishman
Roar Rookie
Nup. Freo banned from finals for being so boring, Don. Can't win finals kicking soccer scores ya know. Wish your comments ended when Freo were eliminated ya big baby.
theirishman
Roar Rookie
And the Blues did one hell of a belly wacker. I'm still chuckling.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
Oh come now ... you know how much I respect your opinion surely.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
The AFL would kill to have such international competition hence the ridiculous exhibition games and the farcical “world cup” it sometimes stages. Then there’s that weird thing they do with the Irish – whatever that is. What a mess. I see you didn’t make any mention of the Rugby World Cup. Funny that.