If the NRL have one bunch of thugs punching s##t out of another bunch of thugs every Friday night, morons will watch.

Carlton is not helping................and dill should stick to camels.

2 minutes ago, willmoy said:

If the NRL have one bunch of thugs punching s##t out of another bunch of thugs every Friday night, morons will watch.

Carlton is not helping................and dill should stick to camels.

There's very little punching on going on, in NRL. very little.

not like the old days. willm

I'm not surprised that the NRL coverage outrates the AFL equivalent - it is a far better production, notwithstanding the much better atmosphere that most AFL games have.

The other advantage that the NRL has is that night games finish before 10pm, whereas Friday night AFL games are often pushing 11pm.

The AFL needs to realise that even the biggest AFL team accounts for less than 10% of the total membership, and presumably the same proportion of the viewing audience. Hence a game between any two clubs will never be of direct interest to more than 20% of all viewers. It is far better to appeal to the other 80% (or more) by finding the best games to show each week, rather than being fixated on the more popular teams. I suspect the NRL do this better, and clearly having a floating fixture helps.

Some ideas for the AFL to consider:

• start the Friday night games earlier so they don't finish so late
• regularise starting times (and days) instead of having them flip-flopping all over the place. Having a routine makes it easier for people to plan to watch (or attend) games. 
• reward form when fixturing 
• insist on at least four games per week being on free-to-air TV. There's no point in the AFL getting good money from a pay TV provider if it means people aren't watching the product
• I'm tempted to say "improve the on-field product" but (a) I'm not sure they know how to do that and (b) we're proving this year that exciting, watchable football is still possible without any need to change the rules. 
• stop copying the NFL. As it happens, NFL ratings (in the US) have been dropping, too.

1 hour ago, poita said:

The AFL needs to realise that even the biggest AFL team accounts for less than 10% of the total membership, and presumably the same proportion of the viewing audience. Hence a game between any two clubs will never be of direct interest to more than 20% of all viewers. It is far better to appeal to the other 80% (or more) by finding the best games to show each week, rather than being fixated on the more popular teams. I suspect the NRL do this better, and clearly having a floating fixture helps.

That is so right. For example I would love to see the showdowns live in Melbourne on a Friday night when those teams are up and about.

There is no doubt that the Carlton fiasco has damaged ratings and if anything good has come out of the drop in ratings is that such things will not happen again.

Game starts are an issue with traffic issues etc getting to the ground but I agree a 15-30 minute earlier start would be ideal. Do we need to wait ten minutes after the start of the broadcast for the game to start. Could we shave a few minutes off the breaks between quarters.

On another tack all together, perhaps some may now realise that the ridiculous amounts being offered for TV rights will not forever increase at the present exponential rate.

Here are some statistics but they go back to 2014. I don't think there will be much greater change.

WEEKLY ATTENDANCES.

afl 32,163

nrl 15,940

rugby 19,629

soccer 12,347

GRAND FINAL ATTENDANCE

afl 100,007

nrl 81,491

rugby 25,800

soccer 42,102

TV VIEWING 

afl 519,975

nrl 590,145

rugby 82,246

soccer 84,072

PARTICIPATION RATES

afl 222,600

nrl 95,200

rugby 95,600

soccer 368,600

 

37 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

That is so right. For example I would love to see the showdowns live in Melbourne on a Friday night when those teams are up and about.

There is no doubt that the Carlton fiasco has damaged ratings and if anything good has come out of the drop in ratings is that such things will not happen again.

Game starts are an issue with traffic issues etc getting to the ground but I agree a 15-30 minute earlier start would be ideal. Do we need to wait ten minutes after the start of the broadcast for the game to start. Could we shave a few minutes off the breaks between quarters.

On another tack all together, perhaps some may now realise that the ridiculous amounts being offered for TV rights will not forever increase at the present exponential rate.

    You just made me think of something else.

The blues supporters are probably not watching as much; The hawks supporters also probably not watching in the same numbers as a couple of years back;  Same the Pies, etc.

 

   I starting to think the AFL has made a rod for their own back by allowing the super power clubs to dominate;  because as the Comp is evening up, and these strong clubs drop their supporters connections,,, but the less powerful clubs which were the weaker in support, will struggle to grow supporters in any quick fashion.

 

ADD the team press compression of space, and its lost its MOJO.

ADD the list management and the supporters feel cheated.

ADD the TV station interference on holding up play as adds take precedence, and again, supporters feel lesser.

 

This may take some time to repair, because supporters just do not grow on trees.

 

Supporters have feelings, and intelligence ( and we are not sheep on a transport ship),  and anger destroys love.

The Love of our game is waning, under the influence of greed and money.

I reckon we are missing something here, and for once i think the Media have, more unwittingly than anything else, brought it to my attention. This has to do with the way they were all over the aspect of that game on Sunday. With the panoramic views, the openness and the flow of that game with that backdrop, they were just effusive with the difference.

We apply that to a rejigged draw and a Friday. Two Games and two locations as necessary. One at least as an open twilighter, and the other, a traditional one. The weather will be a big attraction for a setup of this magnitude. 

4 hours ago, willmoy said:

I reckon we are missing something here, and for once i think the Media have, more unwittingly than anything else, brought it to my attention. This has to do with the way they were all over the aspect of that game on Sunday. With the panoramic views, the openness and the flow of that game with that backdrop, they were just effusive with the difference.

We apply that to a rejigged draw and a Friday. Two Games and two locations as necessary. One at least as an open twilighter, and the other, a traditional one. The weather will be a big attraction for a setup of this magnitude. 

Very much agree.

I know the win made everything rosy on the weekend but the backdrop was magnificent. Even the brown grass was in an Australian outback way, attractive.

Interesting comment on the openness of the game. I'm going to "enjoy" the replay once more and I will watch closely. I had the suspicion on the first watch that they had less cameras at the game or similar which meant more wide shots.

Edited May 29, 20187 yr by Diamond_Jim

19 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Having said all that the AFL does need to stay on top of things, in particular the congestion around the ball which can ruin games.

Ironically Melbourne are playing an open style of game which is not only great to watch but devastatingly effective.

Afl is like watching aus kick right now. Just woeful.

I hope the Afl doesn't respond by stuffing around with the rules.

I also agree that our club is starting to blow the congestion apart and the game will open up again.

Our style of play will be copied if we and the tiges keep succeeding with tough open fast footy

 

 

20 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

I see that powerhouse Carlton are playing this Friday night, again.

Well done,  AFL House.    You deserve your poor ratings.

According to SWYL it is Channel 7 who want Carlton on Friday nights. Big supporter bases, 70's power clubs and all that.

Funny business model if you ask me. Perhaps they have confused the words maximising and minimising.

As in:

CEO:  'i say old chap we should really look to be minimising our critical Friday night ratings'"

Old chap to his underling: 'the chief wants to minimise Friday night ratings. Call Gil and tell him to put the blues on Friday nights as many times as he thinks he could reasonably get away with. Don't ask me why, just make the call' 

Edited May 29, 20187 yr by binman

I wonder if next season they will finally, FINALLY learn their lesson and stop allocating every other Thursday and Friday night to Carlton. Live in hope.

21 hours ago, The Chief said:

NRL heading for TV ratings win over AFL
At the season's halfway mark, the NRL is eclipsing the AFL as the most-watched football code.
http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-on-course-for-tv-ratings-victory-over-afl-20180527-p4zhsd.html?btis

AFL no doubt paying the price for poor Friday night scheduling, but also constant media commentary on poor state of the game.

But does the article itself not suggest Queensland is where NRL is prospering irrespective of teams results, Yet correspondly AFL has the lowest audiences in Queensland. 

Looks like a huge opportunity to me - fix Queensland you fix the problem.  

I would double the budget for the Queensland Academy, deliver bonus points to them in the draft system by the way of lower draft picks - essentially give them all Queensland academy kids for free.

Then would also consider a Queensland only marketing strategy in conjunction with TV channel.

If that does not work we get out the cheaque book, install AFL people in both teams and role the sleeves up. Go on a recruiting raid around the country. 

Edited May 29, 20187 yr by DaveyDee

22 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

I’ve not watched as much, but being married to some one who lived in NSW and QLD, one of the first things she said to me was how surprised she was that we attended games so much here in vic. Up there the NRL supporters she knew all just watched it at pubs or mates places.

Yep.  Moved  to nrl country.......people dont go. Also have thurs night that boosts numbers.

I mentioned AFL ratings had been off this year after about Rnd 5 and got called out by Nasher for being alarmist and probably incorrect when i was just the messenger (heard it on media but couldn't recall the source).

The Rnd 9 update appears no better

Edited May 29, 20187 yr by Rusty Nails

1 hour ago, DaveyDee said:

But does the article itself not suggest Queensland is where NRL is prospering irrespective of teams results, Yet correspondly AFL has the lowest audiences in Queensland. 

Looks like a huge opportunity to me - fix Queensland you fix the problem.  

I would double the budget for the Queensland Academy, deliver bonus points to them in the draft system by the way of lower draft picks - essentially give them all Queensland academy kids for free.

Then would also consider a Queensland only marketing strategy in conjunction with TV channel.

If that does not work we get out the cheaque book, install AFL people in both teams and role the sleeves up. Go on a recruiting raid around the country. 

Or even better, merge the two QLD clubs. No way they both survive long term

3 hours ago, DaveyDee said:

But does the article itself not suggest Queensland is where NRL is prospering irrespective of teams results, Yet correspondly AFL has the lowest audiences in Queensland. 

Looks like a huge opportunity to me - fix Queensland you fix the problem.  

I would double the budget for the Queensland Academy, deliver bonus points to them in the draft system by the way of lower draft picks - essentially give them all Queensland academy kids for free.

Then would also consider a Queensland only marketing strategy in conjunction with TV channel.

If that does not work we get out the cheaque book, install AFL people in both teams and role the sleeves up. Go on a recruiting raid around the country. 

Mate.... Bears were dominant team with three straight premiership wins and in a GF for a fourth.

If they couldn't build lasting support on the back of that success let's face it they are dead.

The Suns were DOA before they started I am afraid.

One team maybe but two is madness.

12 hours ago, SFebey said:

Or even better, merge the two QLD clubs. No way they both survive long term

Becareful what you call for - was not that long ago we would have been in a similar situation with way too many teams in Victoria. 

We live in a 18 team competition football in Queensland needs help today - IMHO getting rid of a team is not the answer - but each to their own. 

14 minutes ago, DaveyDee said:

Becareful what you call for - was not that long ago we would have been in a similar situation with way too many teams in Victoria. 

We live in a 18 team competition football in Queensland needs help today - IMHO getting rid of a team is not the answer - but each to their own. 

AFL needs help and an 18 team competition is ludicrous, talent is spread too thin hence the rubbish we watch every weekend. Greed took control at AFL headquarters, now they just try and patch everything up on the run. 

3 minutes ago, SFebey said:

AFL needs help and an 18 team competition is ludicrous, talent is spread too thin hence the rubbish we watch every weekend. Greed took control at AFL headquarters, now they just try and patch everything up on the run. 

As I said each to their own - but I support the rights of all teams to survive in a National 18 team competition. 

So we agree to disagree. 

11 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Mate.... Bears were dominant team with three straight premiership wins and in a GF for a fourth.

If they couldn't build lasting support on the back of that success let's face it they are dead.

The Suns were DOA before they started I am afraid.

One team maybe but two is madness.

Mate...if you haven’t worked it out by now -  I barrack for the Demons but I’m happy to support any team in a National 18 team competition. 

So IMHO the Queensland teams need support and you would not get any complaints from me if the AFL gave them concessions. 

 

Edited May 29, 20187 yr by DaveyDee

11 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Mate.... Bears were dominant team with three straight premiership wins and in a GF for a fourth.

If they couldn't build lasting support on the back of that success let's face it they are dead.

The Suns were DOA before they started I am afraid.

One team maybe but two is madness.

move suns to tassie.......solved

The talent pool is only so deep, 18 teams is too many. It’s no surprise that the TV ratings are declining, the standard of games has been ordinary. 

Edited May 29, 20187 yr by Ethan Tremblay

36 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

The talent pool is only so deep, 18 teams is too many. It’s no surprise that the TV ratings are declining, the standard of games has been ordinary. 

Exactly

44 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

The talent pool is only so deep, 18 teams is too many. It’s no surprise that the TV ratings are declining, the standard of games has been ordinary. 

I don't buy this argument. In 1986, being the last year of the "traditional" 12 team competition, the population of Australia was 16 million, meaning there were 1.3 million people per team. In 2018, the population of Australia is 24.7 million, meaning there are 1.3 million people per team. The talent pool should therefore be the same. Sure, there's competition from more sports and other non-sporting opportunities, but the average 17-18 year old who is drafted is far more professionally prepared than 17-18 year olds 30 years ago. 

I'm also not sure the standard of the game has dropped. It might be that all games are now shown which means we get to see the good and the bad, whereas back in the "good old days" we saw fewer and perhaps better games (because of the selectivity of which games to show.) It's also possible we just choose to remember selectively and remember the good games and not the bad ones.