Are the AFL serious about growing the game in Sydney?

[Mike_B]

Personal interests aside (as I can't go to the game on Fri night if it does indeed get scheduled for Fri night), IMHO, if the AFL do end up scheduling the game for Fri night at the SCG, then they are not seruious about growing the game in Sydney.

A game at the SCG will basically means tickets only available for Swans members, SCG members and Cats members, with very few tickets available for non-regulars. On the flipside, if they play the game at Telstra, this will allow a whole heaps of event-going Sydneysiders to get a taste of AFL and potentially continue growing the game in Sydney.

We will know fairly soon just where the AFL's priorities lie - with TV rights and their demands, or with the good and growth of the game.

[SXP]

I still don't get it. Why can't both games be played on Saturday? One can be played in the afternoon the other in the evening. Are ratings so bad on Saturday afternoons that Ch 10 doesn't want even to consider it?

[Xie Shan]

Great post Mike_B - you should e-mail it to the AFL (if they haven't made up their mind yet).

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by SXP
I still don't get it. Why can't both games be played on Saturday? One can be played in the afternoon the other in the evening. Are ratings so bad on Saturday afternoons that Ch 10 doesn't want even to consider it?

They will get the best ratings if they play our game on Saturday afternoon - no Rugby League to come up against in Sydney and Brisbane.

[stellation]

Originally posted by Mike_B
They will get the best ratings if they play our game on Saturday afternoon - no Rugby League to come up against in Sydney and Brisbane.

Are they thinking of the Sydney and Brisbane ratings? It seems like they are more concerned with viewers in other states.

[Mike_B]

Well obviously they aren't serious if the closing bit of the Ch 10 telecast was anything to go by - they said our game will be Friday night at the SCG.

The bigwigs at AFL House are a bunch of hypocrites.

[Margie]

Announced at the end of the Port/Roos game that ours is Friday night at the SCG.

[Margie]

Whoops, you beat me to it, Mike.

[ugg]

What a disgraceful decision.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by ugg
What a disgraceful decision.

has it been officially announced yet? I can't see it anywhere on the afl site

[ugg]

Here's my understanding of the stiuation.

Yesterday, it was officially announced it was going to be Friday night and with today's NRL results, Friday night for TS is booked for the Tigers. So that leaves the SCG unless the AFL moves the game to Saturday arvo.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by ugg
Here's my understanding of the stiuation.

Yesterday, it was officially announced it was going to be Friday night and with today's NRL results, Friday night for TS is booked for the Tigers. So that leaves the SCG unless the AFL moves the game to Saturday arvo.

But do we have an official announcement? I'm not getting my hopes up just yet.

[Xie Shan]

Originally posted by ugg
So that leaves the SCG unless the AFL moves the game to Saturday arvo.

Or to Saturday night, and Crows/Port to Saturday arvo - that would make a bit more sense. But no, the stubborn AFL looks like it's already made its mind up so we may as well accept it.

[ugg]

I think the AFL is settled on the big showdown final being played at night.

[Bron]

It is posted on the Swans website (from afl.com.au) as being firday night.