It's back on the agenda. 

Would you be happy with a Twilight/Night Grand Final?

Every year they wheel out the 'we will be making a decision about this' story.

Every year they 'respond to feedback' and keep the day grand final 'for now'.

The whole thing is an exercise in undermining the perceived continuity and legitimacy of the day grand final, by creating a sense that it is a year-by-year decision. Put this together with enough cherry-picking of daft online polls, and soon enough it'll feel normal that this is a debatable topic rather than the open-and-shut 'everyone who really cares either way, prefers day' reality.

They have already made their decision, they are just working on the tactics to out-maneuver public opinion.

It's a lot like the rigged 'pilot programs' and railroaded 'consultation processes' that governments keep using for thought-bubble projects they long ago decided they wanted no matter what the evidence tells them.

Odious scumbags.

  On 04/03/2019 at 12:04, Little Goffy said:

Every year they wheel out the 'we will be making a decision about this' story.

Every year they 'respond to feedback' and keep the day grand final 'for now'.

The whole thing is an exercise in undermining the perceived continuity and legitimacy of the day grand final, by creating a sense that it is a year-by-year decision. Put this together with enough cherry-picking of daft online polls, and soon enough it'll feel normal that this is a debatable topic rather than the open-and-shut 'everyone who really cares either way, prefers day' reality.

They have already made their decision, they are just working on the tactics to out-maneuver public opinion.

It's a lot like the rigged 'pilot programs' and railroaded 'consultation processes' that governments keep using for thought-bubble projects they long ago decided they wanted no matter what the evidence tells them.

Odious scumbags.

All the advertising types would say they really care about it being held at night.

I agree that our guy Gil 'man of the people' is trying to soften everyone up into sliding a night GF onto the fixture under the cover of darkness.

Stop [censored] up our game Gil.

God i hope Robbo is right and you are shown the door come year's end.

Advertising Revenue is higher at night. 

The one and only reason this topic is spoken about yearly

Someone shoot Gil. Fmd,  he's done more to ruin this game than anyone.

Send this ponsy polo-ing puckhead to some other sport to bugger it up.

 

Edited March 4, 20196 yr by beelzebub

I'm convinced that somewhere deep within the TV rights contract is a single line that simply says, "Every year until there is a Night Grand Final, the AFL will in March float the idea of transitioning to a Night Grand Final " 

Daytime because if we play I don't think I could cope sitting around all day waiting until evening/night. 

And, a day game gives plenty of time for fans to celebrate as one at or near the ground, bring the players out etc then let them go to their after game do while we paint the town red (and blue).  Twilight or Night encroaches on the post game festivities.

  On 04/03/2019 at 21:59, Lucifer's Hero said:

Daytime because if we play I don't think I could cope sitting around all day waiting until evening/night. 

And, a day game gives plenty of time for fans to celebrate as one at or near the ground, bring the players out etc then let them go to their after game do while we paint the town red (and blue).  Twilight or Night encroaches on the post game festivities.

This.

I should add I support a daytime Grand Final. Partly because I'm a traditionalist and partly because if we should ever win one of these things, I think I could really enjoy the afterglow better if I had all night to think about it.

If Channel 7 really wanted to extract value from the AFL Grand Final, why don't they invest a few bucks in a night time post-game TV "party"? It would be part replay, part analysis, part attending the post-game winners celebration (and losers wake). Basically, think of it as The Front Bar post Grand Final edition. (The important point is for it to work it has to be hosted by professional entertainers, not football commentators.)

I've often wondered why the TV networks seem to think that there's nothing to cover from 6 pm on Grand Final Day until about March the following year. (I blame TV executives who are based in Sydney and don't understand the product.)

Twilight for me. Start at 4:10pm, game finishes at dusk by 6:45. Gives broadcasters room to generate hype and build events prior to the game. And it leads directly into primetime television.

Businesses in the city would greatly benefit: blending GF crowds with night life crowds in clearer cohesion.

Fans benefit by offering a better atmosphere and experience at the game. Broadcasting allows people to stretch out the day and create more of a celebration, starting later and providing more flexibility.

This is my opinion. I don't really give a [censored] either way.

I wouldnt care if it was 5am, as long as we are in it!

But leave it day i reckon, just to [censored] off Gil....

Daytime!!!

How the heck can you do kick to kick at half time, on the street, pull a hammy and get prime position on the couch as a sympathy ploy if it's dark!

Sheesh Gil!

Do like the comment above about a post game TV special though...  

  On 04/03/2019 at 21:29, beelzebub said:

Someone shoot Gil. Fmd,  he's done more to ruin this game than anyone.

Send this ponsy polo-ing puckhead to some other sport to bugger it up.

 

Exactly. He has done more to turn the game into a politically correct non sense bag than anyone else.

I wish they would just make the change and be done with it so we can stop going through the charade of having a debate about it each year.

The people want a day grand final, the broadcasters want a night grand final, and we all know which of the two groups the AFL cares about.

If Channel 7 wanted the game to be played at midnight in Antarctica, I'm sure the AFL would find a way to make it happen.

like gil's comment "we will not be influenced by broadcasters".........yeah right

Daytime.

Gil can FO

would love a night GF. the lights/fireworks/entertainment would be absolutely amazing. would be the spectacle that it should be.

 

conversely would [censored] hate a twilight game... just stupid. that doesn't butter up for a night game it just [censored] everyone over. if they want a night game just do it and everyone will enjoy it. 

 

 

We have all become cynical about the motives of those in charge of governments, institutions, organisations, and sporting bodies etc

The difference is that for many of us, sport is different, particularly footy.

It is not about hard headed business decisions or beancounters dictating changes that do not benefit the footy public..

It's about passion and soul.

The game has an existential existence for most supporters.

The more changes are made, the more cynical people become.  Cynicism breeds contempt and then anger and  then disengagement, often both. 

At Shepparton on Sunday, it was wonderful to see the hard core Richmond and Melbourne supporters enjoing a day at the footy.  And also those folk without club allegiances wanting to see a good game of footy. 

Men, women, kids of all ages and social class.  At the ground enjoying the purity of the contest. A sport which at its heart, is a simple game.

I stood there thinking, now, this is the way it should be, this is footy   No bells or whistles. Just the game. Just the game. 

Yet the decision makers increasingly make decisions that chip away at that passion, that chip away at the very soul of the game. 

Its similar to the demise of our confidence in parliament, government and our democratic institutions. Its similar to the banks. After a while people lose faith in the leadership and lose faith that the leaders are acting for the benefit of all. 

People disengage and detach from caring about these things.

Will we get to the stage where we stop caring about our footy?

With footy there will always be the game. However, I fear that we are seeing more changes and rumours of change that are driven by the advertising dollar.  It threatens to accelerate the transformation of the game from something that its been for 100 years supported by the match day supporters, to a game viewed on TVs, tablets and devices where viewers are looking for entertainment for their ever decreasing attention spans, happy to absorb advertisements for junk food, cars and gambling.   

Moving to a night grand final will be another nail in the coffin.

Another statement to us all that the AFL does not care for the football public.

The sad thing is we all know that in our heart of hearts it is going to happen. We all know that decisions are made that are not in the interests or for the benefit of all the passionate supporters that love their club and love this great game we call footy. .  

The beauty of football is the football. We do not need fireworks or half time entertainment. We need more football. The best sporting event I have been to was watching the under 19's the reserves and the 1st's  play footy, what a day! No fireworks, no imported Americanisation, no meatloaf other than my mums sandwiches and don't forget the McLelland Trophy.

The ultimate plan - a night grand final, played in Sydney, so that people are leaving the stadium as the lock-out laws come into effect.

Flippant yes, but also does kind of bring up one of the problems with a night grand final. No families get to be part of the after-game celebrations, which would start at 11pm.

Even watching at home, it'll be "ok, that's done, time for bed kids'. Good luck a) getting the kids to sleep and b) building intergenerational passion.

  On 04/03/2019 at 21:29, beelzebub said:

Someone shoot Gil. Fmd,  he's done more to ruin this game than anyone.

Send this ponsy polo-ing puckhead to some other sport to bugger it up.

 

?

  On 04/03/2019 at 23:56, hemingway said:

We have all become cynical about the motives of those in charge of governments, institutions, organisations, and sporting bodies etc

The difference is that for many of us, sport is different, particularly footy.

It is not about hard headed business decisions or beancounters dictating changes that do not benefit the footy public..

It's about passion and soul.

The game has an existential existence for most supporters.

The more changes are made, the more cynical people become.  Cynicism breeds contempt and then anger and  then disengagement, often both. 

At Shepparton on Sunday, it was wonderful to see the hard core Richmond and Melbourne supporters enjoing a day at the footy.  And also those folk without club allegiances wanting to see a good game of footy. 

Men, women, kids of all ages and social class.  At the ground enjoying the purity of the contest. A sport which at its heart, is a simple game.

I stood there thinking, now, this is the way it should be, this is footy   No bells or whistles. Just the game. Just the game. 

 

Yet the decision makers increasingly make decisions that chip away at that passion, that chip away at the very soul of the game. 

 

Its similar to the demise of our confidence in parliament, government and our democratic institutions. Its similar to the banks. After a while people lose faith in the leadership and lose faith that the leaders are acting for the benefit of all. 

People disengage and detach from caring about these things.

Will we get to the stage where we stop caring about our footy?

 

With footy there will always be the game. However, I fear that we are seeing more changes and rumours of change that are driven by the advertising dollar.  It threatens to accelerate the transformation of the game from something that its been for 100 years supported by the match day supporters, to a game viewed on TVs, tablets and devices

like the economy,  and also our homes,  Bigger is not always better.... less can be more.

 

great post, 'hw' ...

The GF is a television event.

When is the best time to watch TV.

Great post Ernest....In recent years I have been frequenting the Casey games when they are played at some of the traditional inner city venues. Try it if you have time. My favourite is probably the Coburg ground but on a nice day Port and Williamstown ovals are delightful.

Last year I also discovered Frankston oval. A great day out.

  On 05/03/2019 at 02:21, Diamond_Jim said:

The GF is a television event.

When is the best time to watch TV.

Great post Ernest....In recent years I have been frequenting the Casey games when they are played at some of the traditional inner city venues. Try it if you have time. My favourite is probably the Coburg ground but on a nice day Port and Williamstown ovals are delightful.

Last year I also discovered Frankston oval. A great day out.

And the Beach Rd oval, Frankston as well.

But Casey has the best food.  Or did.   I haven't been for a couple of seasons.