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Swans blockbuster
By JOHN PIERIK
October 9, 2003
THE Swans plan to break an AFL record crowd attendance for a home-and-away match outside Victoria and cash in on a million-dollar windfall when they host Collingwood in a mid-season stand-alone blockbuster next season.
The AFL yesterday released its fixture list for season 2004 and confirmed the Magpies would feature in a round-13 clash at Telstra Stadium, a match the league hopes will be the biggest single club game of the year for any football code.
The bold initiative, which the AFL hopes to turn into an annual event, has the potential to deliver the Swans a million dollar-plus payday, as well as drive up the value of the AFL's television rights, currently worth $500 million.
It will be the only game played on the June 26 weekend as the other 14 clubs will have the week's bye.
The Swans and Pies will have the week before off, giving more time to what will be a finals-like build-up to the match.
Provided both teams are in winning form, the previous highest crowd of 72,393 for a regular-season game outside of Melbourne ? set when the Magpies and Swans clashed in round 21 this year at Telstra Stadium ? can expect to be beaten.
The contest should also attract more than the 1,298,890 television viewers who tuned into the round four Brisbane versus Collingwood match last season ? the highest rating home-and-away match for the year.
Swans director of football Andrew Ireland said the round 13 marquee match-up with Mick Malthouse's men would have a grand final feel.
"You have to be a bit careful you don't just get focussed on the one game to the detriment of the others but there's no doubt when you have a substantial game people talk about where that game is in the draw," he said.
"The reality is if you fill the stadium you are going to get a very, very healthy return ? every club looks forward to those."
Ireland said it was important both teams were in good form heading into the contest.
"I think the market in Sydney is smart enough to know when a game is important and when a game isn't important," Ireland said.
"It really needs both teams playing well and to be a really important game."
The AFL was heavily criticised by fans and the media for giving its rival codes a free kick last season when it scheduled a week's break for all teams.
This blockbuster will ensure there is no such repeat.
"We saw an opportunity to have a great, showcase promotional game in Sydney that weekend where the focus will be entirely on one match," AFL general manager, commercial operations, Ben Buckley said.
The idea for the match came from Pies' president Eddie McGuire, who suggested to the AFL that they stage an annual Swans-Magpies marquee regular season game during the mid-season break.
By JOHN PIERIK
October 9, 2003
THE Swans plan to break an AFL record crowd attendance for a home-and-away match outside Victoria and cash in on a million-dollar windfall when they host Collingwood in a mid-season stand-alone blockbuster next season.
The AFL yesterday released its fixture list for season 2004 and confirmed the Magpies would feature in a round-13 clash at Telstra Stadium, a match the league hopes will be the biggest single club game of the year for any football code.
The bold initiative, which the AFL hopes to turn into an annual event, has the potential to deliver the Swans a million dollar-plus payday, as well as drive up the value of the AFL's television rights, currently worth $500 million.
It will be the only game played on the June 26 weekend as the other 14 clubs will have the week's bye.
The Swans and Pies will have the week before off, giving more time to what will be a finals-like build-up to the match.
Provided both teams are in winning form, the previous highest crowd of 72,393 for a regular-season game outside of Melbourne ? set when the Magpies and Swans clashed in round 21 this year at Telstra Stadium ? can expect to be beaten.
The contest should also attract more than the 1,298,890 television viewers who tuned into the round four Brisbane versus Collingwood match last season ? the highest rating home-and-away match for the year.
Swans director of football Andrew Ireland said the round 13 marquee match-up with Mick Malthouse's men would have a grand final feel.
"You have to be a bit careful you don't just get focussed on the one game to the detriment of the others but there's no doubt when you have a substantial game people talk about where that game is in the draw," he said.
"The reality is if you fill the stadium you are going to get a very, very healthy return ? every club looks forward to those."
Ireland said it was important both teams were in good form heading into the contest.
"I think the market in Sydney is smart enough to know when a game is important and when a game isn't important," Ireland said.
"It really needs both teams playing well and to be a really important game."
The AFL was heavily criticised by fans and the media for giving its rival codes a free kick last season when it scheduled a week's break for all teams.
This blockbuster will ensure there is no such repeat.
"We saw an opportunity to have a great, showcase promotional game in Sydney that weekend where the focus will be entirely on one match," AFL general manager, commercial operations, Ben Buckley said.
The idea for the match came from Pies' president Eddie McGuire, who suggested to the AFL that they stage an annual Swans-Magpies marquee regular season game during the mid-season break.
