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Monday saw 90,000 fans pack into the MCG and witness a gripping encounter between two of the traditional AFL powerhouses and most supported teams in the league.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, 34,976 fans filled the Sydney Football Stadium.
In Melbourne, the ANZAC Day clash was the hottest ticket in town. Infact on Tuesday I recieved an email from the AFL informing me that a limited number of standing room only seats had been made available, then an hour or so later they were gone.
On the other hand, just yesterday I had three people offering me tickets to the Dragons-Roosters game, I declined them all, for a variety of reasons.
One, I am Bulldogs supporter so I have no interest attending and two, I was parking myself on the lounge to watch the AFL (and then the NRL later).
The AFL just does the big occasions better than the NRL, and yesterday was no exception.
The fact that the NRL ANZAC Day game was on pay TV already excludes many.
That is the first thing I would change. The ANZAC Day game has been a great marketing ploy for the AFL. I remember years before the NRL had their own ANZAC Day fixture, many of my mates were introduced to AFL through the fixture, as it was the only thing on the box.
If you didnt have pay TV yesterday,as a sports fan, what would you have been watching?
The AFL ANZAC Day game gets nuetral fans of teams not involved, who go to the match for the occasion.
This does not happen at the NRL version.
The NRL’s ANZAC Day game has never sold out. Whilst the AFL get 90,000 we have never sold out a 40,000 seat stadium.
Ben Hornby yesterday called it the biggest club game of the year, I tend to disagree.
Yesterday just felt like another regular game. Their was no hype around town nor in the papers.
Last weeks, Bulldogs and Parramatta clash had a crowd of 4000 less… on a weeknight.
Therefore I think its time for a few changes.
Starting with the teams.
Sure the Roosters and Dragons have put a lot into the fixture and in growing it year upon year, but there is an argument that they are just not the right fit.
The Collingwood-Essendon game is built on a great rivalry between two traditional clubs.
Now, whilst Roosters and Dragons are two traditional clubs, they do not bring the fans through the gates like Souths-Roosters, Bulldogs-Parramatta, Bulldogs-Dragons, Dragons-Sharks or South-Dragons.
What was so profound about the Bulldogs-Parramatta getting over 30,000 was that both sides had lost consecutive games and were in questionable form.
The thing is there is always something about those local derbies that has fans circling it on the draw every year.
It’s what has made the Pies-Bombers game so great and I think its something the NRL need to tap into.
The second thing I’d change is the Stadium.
The Sydney Football Stadium has been chosen given the proximity to the City and ANZAC Day festivities. It is tailor made for league and has a great atmosphere.
But games are played their every week, ANZAC Day needs to be different and special.
I would play the game at the SCG.
It adds a bit of nostalgia to the occasion and makes it different from every other NRL round.
Now, sure the Bulldogs and Dragons played their Heritage round game at the SCG, but I’d keep it exclusive for the ANZAC Day game.
The ANZAC Day game should be a special occasion which like the AFL, it is the hottest ticket in town.
Have you ever seen any advertisement for the AFL’s version? It sells itself.
Changes need to be made so that the NRL ANZAC Day game does the same.
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