We understand by now that most novel ideas the AFL implement end up working, not necessarily because they’re good ideas, but because they have a massive market and a seemingly even bigger marketing budget.
I think Gather Round is still a silly idea, but I still find myself booked to make the trip to Adelaide from Melbourne for the second year running. Why? Because the product is good, and with novelty comes excitement.
That’s why, even though the Opening Round concept is again a touch strange, it does give us one important novelty: footy before we usually get it.
The earlier the season starts, the more one begins to wonder why the season didn’t always start this early.
The first week of March is remarkably early, but when the fixture was initially announced, the benefit was not immediately clear, because it was so far away.
But now we’re well into February, the home cricket season is essentially over, we’re back into the groove of work and school, and we’re in that awful period of waiting before the footy starts.
Even though only eight clubs play on that opening weekend, competitive footy is like nothing else. We’ll want to get a look at Brodie Grundy playing his old team and see how he fits in, Damien Hardwick at his new club and potential revenge for the Blues after the Preliminary Final.
These things usually only remain interesting for about two minutes until we get immersed in the game itself, but still, more people tune in because of it.
The fact that people are excited to see Hardwick coaching against his old team is another remarkable success of marketing, including towards me.
There is literally no spectacle to be had. We might get a shot of Dimma sitting in the coach’s box from time to time, yet we’ll all be glued to this apparently unmissable show. Some will even be starting to dream big for the Suns if he gets that win – or comes close.
Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron celebrates a goal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
So is it going to work? Well yes, of course it is. Because no matter how novel, strange or downright nonsensical an idea the AFL comes up with, we all know we’ll watch it. What else are we meant to do on a Thursday Night?
The thing is, the AFL need not market to the more loyal segments of their fan base anyway. Would I watch the first game of the season if it was held at 3am on a Wednesday? Yes, probably – and so would many of you reading.
They don’t have to do much to keep us happy. We’re already happy paying customers.
This incremental expansion of the season serves fans like us because it means we have to wait less time for some footy to start, even if we don’t like the idea in principle.
But it also suits the less rusted-on fanbase they’re always trying to grow. There are thousands of people around Australia who will only watch AFL on a Thursday or Friday night.
So give them more of it. Bringing games into NRL markets, and the start of the NRL season does have the potential to draw eyeballs to the AFL that aren’t usually there.
But even if that fails, the ratings will be massive, the stadiums will be full, and the AFL will have expanded by one extra week.
This might be the only time we have the Opening Round in its current guise, or maybe it’ll become a regular part of the season.
But whatever the case may be, it’ll be a success, because we just can’t say no to footy.
RT
Roar Rookie
Define uneven. There are so many things that are uneven that we could debate all day. The most uneven thing is probably the double ups Top 6 double up against other top 6 more than bottom 6, etc. Although unfair I think it has made it better as less uneven games, in theory.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Unless there was another big boost to the salary cap the AFLPA would likely be dead against more games. This may be a one off (certainly hope so), it seems to be related to the NRL's Las Vegas jaunt given how focused it is on NSW and Qld clubs.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
At least you remove the uneven fixture.
RT
Roar Rookie
Maybe replace "move on" with " accept for now" in my OP and it would be better. Even if we get to a 20 team competition the debates will continue, even if they do make it as fair as possible. Perth teams will always travel more, Vic teams will have few games with a true home ground advantage, 2 teams will get an advantage in the Gather Round.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I just don’t see why they can’t make an extra round and all teams play? if they want to start the season earlier just start the season earlier?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It’s the same as yours - 20 teams is probably the way forward, and everyone plays each other once - with perhaps a rivalry round and gather round making 21 games. I agree it’s not perfect and we can’t make it perfect yet, but it’s a bit rich when Richmond fans (who certainly benefit strongly from the fixture) tell others to move on with the unfairness of the fixture chat.
RT
Roar Rookie
Whatever. What's your proposal? Should a few Vic teams move to Kalgoorlie to help even up the travel?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Spoken like a true Tigers supporter - one of the teams that benefits the most from an uneven fixture. Try supporting a Perth or Adelaide team and keeping the same opinion.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
"Is Opening Round actually a good idea by the AFL after all?" No. Its a bad idea, and executed badly. But I'm sure broadcasters will love it and will, as usual with bad ideas, get universally labelled as enormous success by the media because for them and the commission the "football industry" is more important than the football.
Prez
Roar Rookie
never has there been so much hype and so little delivered by a marque game. History shows what a dud of a game its been.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Craigo That some people may say that.......... on attendances, memberships......and locally produced talent and local competition footprint........AFL in Greater Sydney and Greater Brisbane is lightyears ahead of NRL/RL in Greater Melbourne. That's just a fact. The Storm might be secretly hoping for the total demise of the Rebels.......
Chanon
Roar Rookie
‘A grass root round’ would be ideal for all the 20th century d.e hard supporters!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
You'd think they'd be best developing players by not flying every second week at SANFL level. Let the developing young players get inured to the rigors of playing footy and they can then add the travelling aspects as they advance to the AFL.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Not really up to speed with everything,Port and Crows have restrictions on how they operate at SANFL level,there is no draft in the SANFL so all sides can just recruit by needs I think,Port and Crows have a limit on what they call top up players,experience types to fill out your side.Going to the VFL all teams would be using their reserves the same way and having the same rules for top up players or non afl listed players etc…,instead of getting up and driving to the parade to play Norwood they will have to hop on a plane every 2nd week and travel across the country….so its a big decision and there is probably more reasons why but I am not up to speed with it,not sure what Freo and Westcoast are thinking
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well the Babylonians, Medes & Persians, Greeks and Romans all fell. The AFL will one day suffer the same fate
RT
Roar Rookie
Then there will be too many teams in the VFL and it will split into the AFL reserves and something else. AFL – ruined the VFA, now SANFL, maybe WAFL next, then the VFA (VFL) again. Not to mention other leagues in NSW and Qld (I assume). Lost ACT, damaged Tassie but at least they are starting to make amends there. Abandoned NZ and China too.
Craigo
Roar Rookie
"The Storm in Melbourne is very much a secondary entity." Funny that's what people say about the AFL in NSW ACT & QLD
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Craigo "So how is that different to any given weekend during the season." how is it different? It's the opening round. That's how it's different. Given that the NRL season generally starts 1-2 weeks prior to the AFL season. They always get 'clean air'. Therefor the NRL often has Melbourne to itself - - or the opportunity. And the AFL with the pre finals bye round - - Melbourne wide open. The Storm in Melbourne is very much a secondary entity.
Craigo
Roar Rookie
So how is that different to any given weekend during the season. eg. AFL on different nights to NRL. It's not. People can go to the NRL in Brisbane, Sydney and GC. I notice you didn't mention the fact that the NRL has Melbourne to itself. With the Melbourne Storm playing Penrith on the Friday night. with NO AFL.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Craigo Have done so. Thursday night - Swans at the SCG.........town all to themselves. NRL......way up the road in Newcastle taking on Canberra. Friday night - Brisbane at the Gabba - up against an NRL game in Auckland and one in Melbourne. Those are the two key ones - - Sydney and Brisbane effectively uncontested on consecutive evenings. The AFL will love that......and that's the whole point of their actions here - - for the Swans and Lions in particular to have their fans accessed first up.......with minimal draw against by other codes. It's why it IS a good idea. A great idea. Saturday - - yes - - is more 'contested'......or.......complimentary?? Saturday - - Gold Coast Suns have the afternoon and any multi code fans will can easily enough make their way to Robina for the Titans that evening. The Eels starting 5.30.......makes it seriously tricky for a multicode fan to get to the Showgrounds for 7.30. And the Dolphins........play on the Sunday afternoon. Not much relevance to the Gabba on Friday night.