AFL blasted over 'disrespectful, cynical' act

1 year ago 77

Senior shot writer Caroline Wilson has condemned the AFL for withholding the commencement clip of this year's grand final.

Speaking connected 3AW Football, Wilson argued that footy fans "have the close to know" the clip of the archetypal bounce arsenic the governing assemblage continues to support its cards adjacent to its chest.

"As we beryllium here, it's astir April, this is our top showpiece of the contention each twelvemonth - it's Christmas time for football, it is the icon of the game," she said.

"Why is it astir April and we don't cognize what clip the expansive last is being played this year?

"It is truthful disrespectful, it is truthful cynical by the AFL and if it's not cynical, it's bloody indecisive.

"I deliberation the nationalist has a close to cognize when the expansive last is going to beryllium played earlier April.

"It makes maine truthful angry."

The treatment came astir aft the lights went retired astatine the Gabba during the last 4th of the Brisbane Lions' clash against Melbourne connected Friday night, prompting pundits to sermon what would hap if a akin concern occurred during a nighttime expansive final.

The refusal to disclose the commencement clip adds to speculation that the archetypal bounce could determination from the accepted day timeslot.

Earlier this month, much than 70 per cent of fans voiced their tendency to spot the expansive last stay successful the day slot, according to the yearly AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) survey.

The Age, which exclusively released the findings of the survey, reported that keeping the accepted Saturday day docket was a precedence for viewers.

In contrast, 21 per cent of fans preferred a twilight kick-off.

Geelong's 81-point triumph implicit Sydney astatine the MCG connected Saturday was the lowest standing expansive last of each time, with conscionable 2.96m viewers tuning successful for the 2.30pm start.

With a build-up including 1 of the closest finals bid connected record, a large TV assemblage was expected, but according to OzTam's authoritative tv ratings, lone 2.18m radical watched from the 5 metro markets.

During the COVID-impacted 2020 and 2021 seasons, the deciders were played successful primetime, mostly arsenic a effect of the matches being moved from the MCG to Brisbane and Perth.

With the numbers down adjacent to a cardinal viewers, COVID-19 restrictions could person had an interaction with much radical going retired to ticker the crippled successful 2022, oregon gathering successful groups astatine home, than successful erstwhile years.

The NRL preliminary last betwixt Penrith and South Sydney besides raked successful 414,000 viewers successful Sydney compared to the 375,000 that tuned into the AFL's showpiece event.

There are respective benefits to broadcasters and streaming services that plead the lawsuit for a twilight expansive final.

Pre-game and half-time amusement are thought to beryllium much striking astatine night, portion a higher advertizing terms tin beryllium argued during primetime slots.

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