NFL coming to the MCG in September 2026 - clash with AFL finals?

[The_torpedo]

why cant they just do it on the 3rd of October? have the 2 teams play in separate TNF doubleheaders the week prior, fly them over for the match (which could be a friday night broadcast if it started at midday/early afternoon saturday) and then fly back to a bye week?

 

[happy_eagle]

Australian football would be huge if it were invented and spread by the British empire that ruled the world

How much of this belief is just down to the fact that "well I like it, so others would like it too if they saw it"

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

How much of this belief is just down to the fact that "well I like it, so others would like it too if they saw it"

I think it’s more about how sports become popular in general. Cricket VS Baseball probably tells you all you need to know.

 

[Bjo187]

How much of this belief is just down to the fact that "well I like it, so others would like it too if they saw it"

Coz I've lived in America, have had American in laws and friends both over there and here that when introduced to the game love it. There a lots of videos online of internationals seeing the game for the first time and they're blown away by it. Of course there is an element of politeness, but you can typically tell if someone is genuinely into something or just being polite.

It's too late now anyway all the sports cultures around the world are inbedded, but I'm talking if each sport got the same starting point, media coverage, country of birth etc footy would dominate, coz it combines the best elements of all other sports.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Yeah can't say I really 'get' NFL - got to work on Monday and a few colleagues were really getting into the Superbowl but it didn't really grab me at all

Bad game to choose to get into it, was one of the biggest blowouts in Superbowl history. Even regulars thought it was a snoozefest.

It can take a while to get into but once it clicks it really is one of the best sports in the world, I have it equal with Aussie rules and to be honest Aussie rules has gone backwards the last 20 years (but many will same American football has too). It is slow but with intermittent explosiveness and there is so much going on in any one play, it really is like chess on grass.

Each to their own though, not everyone will like but I've grown to love it over the last 15 years (despite my team absolutely sucking).

 

[tandino]

The solution to the sight line problem at ground level, like most of life's other problems, is tarps

 

[tandino]

And also the other question.

 

[The Mailman Delivers]

The solution to the sight line problem at ground level, like most of life's other problems, is tarps

View attachment 2225093

The 'G's a different beast to Wembley I'm afraid. The seats are a lot further away, and climb less steeply. You'll need more tarp than seat....

 

[speedpeck23]

Bad game to choose to get into it, was one of the biggest blowouts in Superbowl history. Even regulars thought it was a snoozefest.

It can take a while to get into but once it clicks it really is one of the best sports in the world, I have it equal with Aussie rules and to be honest Aussie rules has gone backwards the last 20 years (but many will same American football has too). It is slow but with intermittent explosiveness and there is so much going on in any one play, it really is like chess on grass.

Each to their own though, not everyone will like but I've grown to love it over the last 15 years (despite my team absolutely sucking).

First time I really watched a game and actively tried to follow it. Sure it was a blowout but in a way that helped to try and find out what is so good about the game.

Get a close contest in just about anything and the excitement of that becomes the thing you connect to.

In a one sided game the Eagles of course were the playmakers and just concentrating on what they were doing and trying to do gave a real insight to what it was all about. The attacking team being able to run forward of the ball to me is the critical similarity to AFL. Generates the great plays. Its so intense I think they do have to stop between plays.

AFL has the same intensity but players get a break because the field is much bigger so players aren't always close to the contest.

It's refreshing to see because we hear so much about soccer being the "world game"....compared to NFL it's very pedestrian.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah can't say I really 'get' NFL - got to work on Monday and a few colleagues were really getting into the Superbowl but it didn't really grab me at all

You picked the worst game to start, that was over very early. If you saw the Chiefs-Bills Championship game the round prior you may have got a better idea. I love both sports though, always love the SuperBowl for what it is, time to have a day off and an extra long weekend!

 

[radiojake]

I think the part that doesn't click with me is the cynical nature of the plays - very little reactiveness like in Aussie rules - the way commentators lose their shit when an Australian kicker does something on the fly after the initial plan fulls through is hilarious

Game seems so risk adverse - will take a 3 yard gain as a win as opposed to really taking the game on

But that's just me, I guess

More tickets for everyone else when it's at the G

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I think the part that doesn't click with me is the cynical nature of the plays - very little reactiveness like in Aussie rules - the way commentators lose their shit when an Australian kicker does something on the fly after the initial plan fulls through is hilarious

Game seems so risk adverse - will take a 3 yard gain as a win as opposed to really taking the game on

But that's just me, I guess

More tickets for everyone else when it's at the G

Probably picked the worst game to get that (SuperBowls tend to be do whatever you have to in order to win nothing more or less). Can I say this, go and watch a Detroit Lions match (Jarrod Goff the quarterback). The Lions were notorious this year for trick plays etc, that was before they were decimated with injuries, were the No1 seed after the regular season. There's obviously time and a place for these plays and analytics play a massive role, but it's the same in AFL, you can't kick the ball in the corridor every time you'll get smacked doing it.

 

[Underarm]

And also the other question.

View attachment 2225094

What did they use for reference? Glenferrie?

 

[Aussie in exile]

The Grand Final can be on October 3, it's happened several times before.

Wouldn't that be down to the MCG committee, and not the AFL?

 

[Hoops]

Funny how the AFL melted down over the prospect of Australia hosting the FIFA World Cup, but are all too happy to embrace this even if it potentially disrupts the finals scheduling.

Myth, that the AFL melted over Australia hosting the World Cup. They actually gave up the MCG and just wanted clarity around AFL games being played.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Funny how the AFL melted down over the prospect of Australia hosting the FIFA World Cup, but are all too happy to embrace this even if it potentially disrupts the finals scheduling.

Big difference that silly WC idea wanted us to close our stadiums for a month so the they could get stadiums ready and what not. NFL are happy to fit in with us and it’s easy to schedule games for a week
Not at the G (use marvel if need be in Melbourne).

 

[Underarm]

Big difference that silly WC idea wanted us to close our stadiums for a month so the they could get stadiums ready and what not. NFL are happy to fit in with us and it’s easy to schedule games for a week
Not at the G (use marvel if need be in Melbourne).

There's no way finals will be held at Marvel because of an NFL game at the G. Would be a huge embarrassment for the AFL.

 

[Bjo187]

It will take some of the hype away from our finals series with Australia's current obsession with any and everything that is American. I've noticed even our national news websites are 50 percent American news now, it's nuts considering they barely even know or care that we exist over there.

 

[Cmarsh]

The solution to the sight line problem at ground level, like most of life's other problems, is tarps

View attachment 2225093

The problem of that solution would be that the Victorian government and tourist board that sold the NFL on the MCG as a venue would have been constantly spouting about how the MCG holds 100k. With tarps they won't be getting near that figure.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

There's no way finals will be held at Marvel because of an NFL game at the G. Would be a huge embarrassment for the AFL.

Will co exist though and the ground won’t have to be hired out for a month. They will have plans and backup plans

 

[parano1a]

There's no way finals will be held at Marvel because of an NFL game at the G. Would be a huge embarrassment for the AFL.

Depends on the game really. For example a Western Bulldogs v GWS week 1 final would be fine to play at Marvel

 

[Cmarsh]

Depends on the game really. For example a Western Bulldogs v GWS week 1 final would be fine to play at Marvel

May turn out that Marvel might be too small for that matchup. St Kilda vs GWS got 70k at the MCG recently for a week 1 final.

 

[Underarm]

Depends on the game really. For example a Western Bulldogs v GWS week 1 final would be fine to play at Marvel

The AFL and MCG'S position is all Victorian finals are at the MCG.

It doesn't matter when on the weekend they play it, it will cause havoc to the finals schedule and one club will be screwed - most likely a Non Vic club.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

I get it's a likely once off thing but why would a week day, day game be beneficial to anyone?

If they are here to grow the game play it in prime time...If you're catering for American audiences then play in America

Sunday afternoon would work out fine IMO, will be shown live Saturday afternoon over there. It will be an adjustment for them because most games get played Sunday/Monday there time but I think they will be fine.

 

[parano1a]

Sunday afternoon would work out fine IMO, will be shown live Saturday afternoon over there.

Sunday 12pm in Melbourne works out to be Saturday 8pm in New York and 5pm in LA.