AFL fans agree on contentious grand final issue

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More than 70 per cent of AFL fans would similar to spot the grand final stay successful the day timeslot, according to the yearly AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) survey.

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

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

During the COVID-impacted 2020 and 2021 seasons, the competition's decider was scheduled successful the evening arsenic the expansive last was forced from the MCG.

As is the lawsuit each year, determination was fierce statement surrounding the start clip for past year's lucifer betwixt Sydney and Geelong, nevertheless the AFL yet reinstated the customary 2.30pm opening bounce.

In effect to the survey's findings, AFLFA president Ron Issko concluded that fans wanted a hospitable commencement time.

"All those polls – erstwhile bash you privation the expansive last – 2.30pm keeps coming up, the tradition, taking kids, past being capable to observe afterwards and not coming location astatine a ridiculous hour," helium said.

"If you person it astatine twilight oregon nighttime, it's going to beryllium that overmuch harder afterwards. But broadcasters similar twilight, truthful we person a small spot of a struggle there. It's not casual for the AFL to equilibrium that, but if the bulk of fans accidental 2.30pm, past you person to spell with 2.30pm. If it was 50-50, past it would beryllium a antithetic story."

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.

Ticket allocation for the expansive last was besides reviewed, with fans wanting each participating nine to person much than 17,000 tickets disposable for members.

Last season, the AFL froze entry-level tickets for the expansive last astatine $185 for the 4th consecutive year.

"Ninety-two per cent of fans enactment much than the existent 34,000 tickets allocated to competing nine members for the expansive final. Qualitative comments from fans recognise the value of sponsors and gross but judge the allocation needs to beryllium accrued fixed the value of fans to the competition," the survey said.

"Fans besides question the proportionality allocated to MCC members, noting it is simply a nationalist game."

Issko argued that determination indispensable beryllium a mode to acceptable speech much tickets for nine members without limiting benefits to sponsors.

"In the tone of sitting down and discussing instrumentality issues, let's beryllium down and sermon that aged chestnut of much tickets for competing nine members ... I americium definite it is possible," helium said.

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