2007 Draw Updates...post here

[robbieando]

Originally posted by reigning premier
And if it is 6 weeks in advance like you said, plenbty of time for cheaper flights (4weeks).

6 weeks isn't enough time to plan a trip interstate unless your going to do a quick stopover. In most cases whole families plan and save for months to attend aways matches as part of a family holiday something which they couldn't do if they had uncertainty of AFL fixturing to work around.

Another factor is that unlike the NRL the AFL have TWO FTA TV networks to deal with and hence they have to work out the fixture in advance BEFORE the season so the two networks don't fight between themselves over the right to show a certain game during a season. Plus the FNF AFL ratings for Ch9 in Melbourne weren't that much different to that of the handpick FNF NRL in Sydney.

[laughingnome]

Originally posted by hammo
...Friday night games although Sydney and Brisbane are usually the only teams to miss out.

Is it worth pointing out that both these teams make requests to the committee not to have Friday night games owing to the fact that
1 - Unlike in Melbourne, Adelaide, Geelong and Perth the Home Ground is not in the heart of the city AND easily accessible. There is a reason the PF was decided to start at 8pm and not the normal 7:10.
2 - Both teams would be killed in the ratings trying to compete with NRL. The AFL gets an incredible more number of people through the gate on game day but in Sydney (not 100% sure about Brisbane) the Rugby League is ratings gold.

For those two reasons they make the request not to have Friday Night games too often. That said Sydney did request one Friday Night game in the 2007 season, to be played at the SCG (reduced capacity so easy to fill) against one of the current powerhouses (I believe St Kilda and Adelaide were mentioned). Such a game would ensure a sell-out and shows Sydney hasn't given up looking for a niche in the Friday Night slot.

[reigning premier]

Originally posted by robbieando

6 weeks isn't enough time to plan a trip interstate unless your going to do a quick stopover. In most cases whole families plan and save for months to attend aways matches as part of a family holiday something which they couldn't do if they had uncertainty of AFL fixturing to work around.

Fair cop.... Being a single bloke with far too much time on my hands I tend to forget about the whole family thing sometimes..

Another factor is that unlike the NRL the AFL have TWO FTA TV networks to deal with and hence they have to work out the fixture in advance BEFORE the season so the two networks don't fight between themselves over the right to show a certain game during a season.

This is a multi-million dollar professional industry. It's really no excuse. It's in the interests of all parties to have haigher ratings and increase the popularirty of the game.

Plus the FNF AFL ratings for Ch9 in Melbourne weren't that much different to that of the handpick FNF NRL in Sydney.

I don't think so. Well not last year anyway. Not sure how they compare in a head-to-head scenario (i.e. total number of viewers in Sydney for FNF as opposed to total viewers in Melbourne for FNF), but ratings were down significantly - more than half in some instances, for Friday night footy in Melbourne simply because the two competing teams were crap and of no hope of making the finals.

[DST]

Originally posted by Damien
13 games in NSW/ACT. I'd guess 6 in Melbourne, 1 Perth, 1 Adelaide and 1 Brisbane.

That will be it and you can probably expect Sydney to play a couple of Friday night games in either Melbourne, Perth or Adelaide for channel 7 to test the waters of live AFL into Sydney when the Swans play or as a sweetner in the Foxtel deal to allow Foxtel to go live into Sydney on a Friday night with a Swans game.

But only 1 game in each of Adelaide, Perth & Brisbane works well for us with the rest in Sydney. ACT & Melbourne where we play well.

DST

[DST]

Originally posted by reigning premier
I don't think so. Well not last year anyway. Not sure how they compare in a head-to-head scenario (i.e. total number of viewers in Sydney for FNF as opposed to total viewers in Melbourne for FNF), but ratings were down significantly - more than half in some instances, for Friday night footy in Melbourne simply because the two competing teams were crap and of no hope of making the finals.

Agree that the games were not the best in a number of circumstances but a lot of people in Melbourne got tired of the over hyped blokey way channel 9 did Friday night with Gary Lyon & Dermie etc.

I used to be one that would head home in time to watch the game, but now just as likely to have it on in the pub in the background for score checks so I didn't have to put up with those idiots.

DST

[swantastic]

13 games in NSW/ACT. I'd guess 6 in Melbourne, 1 Perth, 1 Adelaide and 1 Brisbane.

Ah dosent get much better than that.Oh yeh it does we could have 15 games in NSW/ACT,6 in melbourne and 1 in Brisbane ah now thats better.(We Wish)

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by reigning premier
Here's one for you....

Have the AFL finally woken up to themselves and are going to leave the draw "flexible" so they can telecast the best games???? i.e. Like the NRL wisely do.

For those not aware of how it works, the NRL draw works like this:

1. Draw is announced about 2mths before season kick off.
2. Each team polays each other twice, one home, one away (Wish we did this).
3. Each team knows what team they will be playing on a particular weekens and where they will be playing - but not when.
4. The actual timing for the game is not decided until 2 weeks prior to the game. i.e. Friday nights, Saturday, Sunday, etc.

This ensures that they always get a "blockbuster" game to televise on Friday and Sunday. Unlike the AFL who end up with a farsical Friday night game between Essendon and PtAdelaide on Friday night because that's the way the draw came out. In the NRL system, this game would have ended up on Saturday Afternoon and the game between two contending teams that actually mattered would have been played on Friday.

I understand channel 9 took an absolute belting in the ratings over these crap Friday night games.

What about the barrackers from all the clubs who book away match travel as soon as they get the draw? Are they not considered important at all any more?

Or are TV ratings considered the sacred cow these days?

If the whole year was a stressful logistically as the finals was, a lot of barrackers would just not bother travelling interstate any more. if that were the case, I'd find that very sad.

JF

[Layby]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
What about the barrackers from all the clubs who book away match travel as soon as they get the draw? Are they not considered important at all any more?
JF

No, they are a small but vocal minority.

The vast majority of people would prefer blockbuster matches on a Friday night TV.

People who are committed to away games will put up with the minor inconvenience of late notice of fixtures.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Layby
People who are committed to away games will put up with the minor inconvenience of late notice of fixtures.

Like hell we will!!! If you've already booked and paid for a flight, it could be difficult to change and if you can change it, you would probably have to pay a fee to do so.

[Bloody Hell]

Originally posted by Layby

The vast majority of people would prefer blockbuster matches on a Friday night TV.

People who are committed to away games will put up with the minor inconvenience of late notice of fixtures.

The revenue for TV rights is already locked away before the ratings are released.

Money from the gates.....a variable.

So who should you cater to?

[floppinab]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/swans-take-punt-on-the-slipper-fitting/2006/10/18/1160850998766.html

Interesting approach to ticketing but of greater interest at the bottom of this article

"Meanwhile, the Swans are continuing negotiations with the SCG Trust hoping to gain compensation for any lost revenue caused by renovations to the ground next season. With the Swans scheduled to play eight of their 11 home games at the SCG, where capacity will drop to close to 30,000 during the building works, they are concerned fans may be locked out.

Baron-Hay said there was no thought yet of transferring more games to Telstra Stadium. "We'll be talking to the SCG Trust to make sure that we are fairly compensated for any losses," he said."

An opportunity lost IMO to put at least one maybe two extra higher drawing games out there next year. One suspects the Trust are being their usual @@@@@@ up selves.

I think the Eagles Rd. 1 fixture won't draw as many as people think. Folks aren't completely switched on for footy by Rd. 1 and the biggest crowds are Telstra have always included a large percentage of travelling opposition supporters which this fixture definately won't have.

[nat]

Hm, guys when is the draw released? I've heard a few different dates but nothing confirmed.

[j s]

Originally posted by nat
Hm, guys when is the draw released? I've heard a few different dates but nothing confirmed.

It was supposed to be yesterday - but was delayed due to ongoing negotiations between 7/10 and Foxtel.

Now expected early next week.

[AnnieH]

Sydney and AFL would be fools to play Round 1 against WC at TS ... only the faithful will turn up.
They should save TS for the Collingwood game. That's when six feral mates decide to travel up the hume in a Kingswood to watch the game ... by ten thousand. That's a lotta Kingswoods!!
Let the budgies beat us in Round One.
Good on them, let them gloat for 25 weeks.
We'll beat them in the game that matters come the last Saturday in September 2007!!

[Layby]

Originally posted by Bloody Hell
The revenue for TV rights is already locked away before the ratings are released.

Money from the gates.....a variable.

So who should you cater to?

Ever heard of advertising revenue