Twilight Grand Final?

[kid_a]

It is weak because it's not what is best for the game and it's growth, which is the whole reason the AFL administration exists, to do what's best for the sport.

I don't think growth alone is what is best for the game or any game. Stability, enjoyment and engagement with the consumers (fans) are all just as Important. Soccer is by far the world most popular sport and has grown all over the world but look how ****ed up that sport is in a lot of places and facets.......whilst a sport likely Gaelic football has virtually no room to grow or expand and yet has intense engagement, high participation numbers and very heavy cultural appeal/identity for those follow and play it.

Secondly moving to a night or twilight game isn't going to suddenly double the viewing figures or anything.
At most you'll get a few hundred thousand more, mostly half hearted casual "fans", tuning in only because they aren't out and about at that time. The vast majority of football fans know to make themselves available on GF days where possible.

Plus non sports fans aren't going to decide to just start watching it because it's on TV in a more "primetime" slot, they'll continue what the always do and watch other things.

I don't see how changing the timeslot of one game, granted the biggest game, is suddenly going help propel growth of the game anyway, all it's going to do is annoy most actual football fans and get a a slightly higher percentage of more eyeballs so the AFL can gloat it has the highest rating program every year...a category it already wins most years anyway.

 

[Bjo187]

Secondly moving to a night or twilight game isn't going to suddenly double the viewing figures or anything.
At most you'll get a few hundred thousand more, mostly half hearted casual "fans", tuning in only because they aren't out and about at that time. The vast majority of football fans know to make themselves available on GF days where possible.

I don't even turn the TV on during the day outside of occasional footy games, in the evening I always do.

If I have no interest but see a grand final on in primetime (going past 6pm) I'll switch it on. I only watch the NRL grand final because it's on Sunday night, I wouldn't bother to turn the TV on if it were Saturday afternoon.

It might not matter to you, but get some quality entertainment, a good close game and that casual fan with no interest thinks 'gee this is pretty good, I might give it a try next year'. It's just common sense. Let alone the fact the game is on at midday in Perth, the poor tv spectacle the middle of the day produces to the millions watching and the fact twilight just looks better and feels a bigger event and it's another missed opportunity for the AFL.

 

[jwikked]

I don't even turn the TV on during the day outside of occasional footy games, in the evening I always do.

If I have no interest but see a grand final on in primetime (going past 6pm) I'll switch it on. I only watch the NRL grand final because it's on Sunday night, I wouldn't bother to turn the TV on if it were Saturday afternoon.

It might not matter to you, but get some quality entertainment, a good close game and that casual fan with no interest thinks 'gee this is pretty good, I might give it a try next year'. It's just common sense. Let alone the fact the game is on at midday in Perth, the poor tv spectacle the middle of the day produces to the millions watching and the fact twilight just looks better and feels a bigger event and it's another missed opportunity for the AFL.

Why do we need to cater to those people?

This isn’t a niche sport in Australia. People know about it, and they know if they like it or not. Ruining what is the best day of the year isn’t worth it.


If the AFL keep shitting on their fans, they will lose them. And that’s not worth trying to appeal to the zoomer class who spend 80% of the game looking at instagram.

 

[10571z]

What’s the point of a twilight GF? The entrainment would still be in the daylight?

IMO day time is fantastic and unique to AFL. Does it really matter extra randoms would watch it if at night?

 

[kid_a]

Keen for the obligatory Damo whinge piece regarding this issue on the AFL app/site this week.

The only question is.... will it be its own article? ....or will he slip it in the sliding doors?

 

[magpielicious]

The current tv rights were negotiated with a daytime GF as part of the deal. There is NO WAY the AFL will change to twilight without getting extra $ from tv. So they've now given tv stations 2 years to come up with extra $millions or wait till the next tv rights negotiations. Anyone who thinks the AFL have done this for traditonalists or the fans is sadly dreaming.

 

[JackFlash]

As a traditionalist and supporter of the Day Time GF for years, i have changed my mind and the AFL have made a mistake here. It's 2026 and a late twilight 5pm start or a 7pm night game start would be more beneficial for the game. The NRL will love this news!

 

[jwikked]

As a traditionalist and supporter of the Day Time GF for years, i have changed my mind and the AFL have made a mistake here. It's 2026 and a late twilight 5pm start or a 7pm night game start would be more beneficial for the game. The NRL will love this news!

Why are you thinking about the NRL? Completely different sport

 

[Teen Wolf]

The current tv rights were negotiated with a daytime GF as part of the deal. There is NO WAY the AFL will change to twilight without getting extra $ from tv. So they've now given tv stations 2 years to come up with extra $millions or wait till the next tv rights negotiations. Anyone who thinks the AFL have done this for traditonalists or the fans is sadly dreaming.

The AFL's contract with broadcasters has all kinds of triggers for more money. For example, and using Gill's term, the deal (struck before Tassie was awarded a licence) "contemplates" extra games in the event of a 19th team added.

So they might already have a clause for the grand final starting at twilight or night. Though I'm not saying this is definitely the case.

 

[kid_a]

As a traditionalist and supporter of the Day Time GF for years, i have changed my mind and the AFL have made a mistake here. It's 2026 and a late twilight 5pm start or a 7pm night game start would be more beneficial for the game. The NRL will love this news!

How will one match being played at night rather than afternoon be more beneficial for the game exactly?

Seriously other than adding probably 200-300k extra viewers on TV what else will it do for the sport and the league?

Genuinely interested to hear legit points as to how this is broadly beneficial outside of a bit of spike in potential ratings.

I can't imagine it's going to lead to a better style of play...or international exposure...or suddenly make someone who dislikes the sport suddenly enjoy it...raise the standard of umpiring...or reverse the downward trend of indigenous players being drafted for example

 

[Bjo187]

Why do we need to cater to those people?

This isn’t a niche sport in Australia. People know about it, and they know if they like it or not. Ruining what is the best day of the year isn’t worth it.


If the AFL keep shitting on their fans, they will lose them. And that’s not worth trying to appeal to the zoomer class who spend 80% of the game looking at instagram.

It isn't ruining it though, it is making it so much better of a spectacle, with the added bonus of exposing your big day to millions more potential new fans. It's something the AFL only gets one chance a year to do and pisses it up the wall by putting the game as out of sight, out of mind as possible, to most of the country.

The viewing experience of a day game is ordinary for the 90% of people watching on TV, bright sun, red ball that gets lost in the crowd, shadowing later. The entertainment looks crap in the sunlight and doesn't draw in the casual viewer like it would later on, despite how much they pay for the artist and don't get me started on the city being dead by 10pm on grand final night coz everybody has already gone home. A lot of people in the northern states miss the game due to sports like local cricket clashing with it and in WA it's ridiculously on as early as midday.

 

[Xtreme]

Anyone who has a brain should want the Grand Final at night/twilight.

Reason the Grand Final should be twilight/night
1. The TV ratings are better
2. The entertainment is better
3. All the other finals are at night.
4. It’s fairer, because 70% of H&A games are played at night/twilight with a yellow ball.
5. It’s aesthetically better with no shadows on the ground

Reason the Grand Final should be during the day
None

What kind of idiot would want the AFL’s biggest product played in the same timeslot reserved for Saturday movie re-runs? All the other finals were moved to night years ago, yet the most important final of all to maximise the audience isn’t? Why????? Tradition isn’t a reason because if it was, all the other finals would be played during the day.

1. Ratings are negligible, people are acting as if the ratings would double.............. they'd barely increase the needle by changing time slots.

2. Meatloaf, Katy Perry etc at night would still suck. No amount of lasers and pop gun fireworks would hide the crap vocals

3/4/5: A non factor, night matches are a dogs breakfast compared to day games.

Day grand finals are the premiere event in Australian sport. Nothing better than a sunny day and the first bounce (ewww now first throw up) to start the first quarter. Red Sherrin football is great, compared to the slipper conditions that night maatches bring. I want the best of the best to duke it out under the hot spring sun.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

I don't even turn the TV on during the day outside of occasional footy games, in the evening I always do.

If I have no interest but see a grand final on in primetime (going past 6pm) I'll switch it on. I only watch the NRL grand final because it's on Sunday night, I wouldn't bother to turn the TV on if it were Saturday afternoon.

It might not matter to you, but get some quality entertainment, a good close game and that casual fan with no interest thinks 'gee this is pretty good, I might give it a try next year'. It's just common sense. Let alone the fact the game is on at midday in Perth, the poor tv spectacle the middle of the day produces to the millions watching and the fact twilight just looks better and feels a bigger event and it's another missed opportunity for the AFL.

Watching TV during the day is absolute degenerate houso behaviour

Looks like I'm walking SEN App for another 2 GFs

 

[kid_a]

It isn't ruining it though, it is making it so much better of a spectacle, with the added bonus of exposing your big day to millions more potential new fans. It's something the AFL only gets one chance a year to do and pisses it up the wall by putting the game as out of sight, out of mind as possible, to most of the country.

The viewing experience of a day game is ordinary for the 90% of people watching on TV, bright sun, red ball that gets lost in the crowd, shadowing later. The entertainment looks crap in the sunlight and doesn't draw in the casual viewer like it would later on, despite how much they pay for the artist and don't get me started on the city being dead by 10pm on grand final night coz everybody has already gone home. A lot of people in the northern states miss the game due to sports like local cricket clashing with it and in WA it's ridiculously on as early as midday.

I couldn't disagree more with you the issue of it looking better at night. (Not having a go at you or anything this is obviously just a matter of personal taste and you're entitled to your opinion on that) But watching the GF at the Gabba a few years ago looked crap...yeah I get the Gabba isn't the MCG, but still the night aspect helped make it look less spectacular, but again that's just what I thought and not objective "fact" I guess. Truth be told I think in almost all instances big sports events look aesthetically better on a sun drenched day than under lights.

But yeah I very much doubt that moving it back to a later start is going to expose it to "millions" more people.....it'll be in the hundreds of thousands at most.

 

[kid_a]

Watching TV during the day is absolute degenerate houso behaviour

Looks like I'm walking SEN App for another 2 GFs

What an odd take, how do you think most people took in events and sport games before lights were so common at grounds? (Excluding those who went to he game)

You can't be that much of a fan that the thought of seeing on TV whilst the sun is up sickens you so much that it means that you just avoid watching it altogether, particularly when it happens once a year

 

[Corn Cobbers]

What an odd take, how do you think most people took in events and sport games before lights were so common at grounds? (Excluding those who went to he game)

You can't be that much of a fan that the thought of seeing on TV whilst the sun is up sickens you so much that it means that you just avoid watching it altogether, particularly when it happens once a year

It's actually a great way to follow the game, certainly better than trying to watch a small TV in a packed sweaty room full of people who don't gaf

I used to be extremely pro day GF so not a hill I'm gonna die on

 

[Dan26]

1. Ratings are negligible, people are acting as if the ratings would double.............. they'd barely increase the needle by changing time slots.

Ratings are significantly higher at night. That's why it's called Prime Time and that's why the AFL schedule all the other finals at night

2. Meatloaf, Katy Perry etc at night would still suck. No amount of lasers and pop gun fireworks would hide the crap vocals

Entertainment has negligible interest to the footy purists like those on bigfooty, but got the average normie, yes the entertainment is a million times better at night. The lighting the fireworks, it's clearly better at night. Everyone knows that.

3/4/5: A non factor, night matches are a dogs breakfast compared to day games.

I don't even know what the hell you are talking about there. The aesthetics are unarguably better at night with the bright yellow ball, no shadows from the sun. That's why footy looks better at night. And yes, it's fairer, because 70% of all games are already played at twilight/night with a yellow ball which is even more for the Grand Finalists who would have played more prime time games during the year.

Look at the below two images. The first one is Eric Hipwood's goal from the 2024 Grand Final. You know the one thing you can't see? The FRIGGIN BALL! Where is the ball? The red ball is totally lost against the sea or red and maroon in the crowd. And it would be even worse if the Sun wasn't behind a cloud causing shadows everywhere. Look at how much clearer and aesthetically pleasing the second image is with the clear yellow ball, no shadows on the ground. It's objectively better for TV. Anyone who says it's not is lying, in denial, or is an idiot. Night footy is amazing for television.

Day grand finals are the premiere event in Australian sport. .

The AFL Grand Final might be the premier event but it's not the premiere event "because" it's played during the day. It's the premiere event in spite of it being played during the day. All the big sporting events are at night: The Superbowl, the NRL Grand Final and all three State of Origin, The Champions League Final, all 7 games of the NBA Finals, all 7 games of the World Series, The Soccer World Cup Final etc etc.

The only event I can think of that is played during the day is the FA Cup Final and even that is only the third biggest trophy to win (behind the league title and Champions League). There is not a single event I can think of that is the BIGGEST trophy to win for that sport that is played during the day. All the biggest events are at night, where they belong.

Nothing better than a sunny day and the first bounce (ewww now first throw up) to start the first quarter. Red Sherrin football is great, compared to the slipper conditions that night maatches bring. I want the best of the best to duke it out under the hot spring sun.

You sound like a total regressive. 70% of games are at night now. If you like day footy so much, why not advocate for the all finals to be played during the day or would that make you a hypocrite?

Just get into the modern day and play the god damn game at night where it belongs.

 

[kid_a]

Ratings are significantly higher at night. That's why it's called Prime Time and that's why the AFL schedule all the other finals at night



Entertainment has negligible interest to the footy purists like those on bigfooty, but got the average normie, yes the entertainment is a million times better at night. The lighting the fireworks, it's clearly better at night. Everyone knows that.



I don't even know what the hell you are talking about there. The aesthetics are unarguably better at night with the bright yellow ball, no shadows from the sun. That's why footy looks better at night. And yes, it's fairer, because 70% of all games are already played at twilight/night with a yellow ball which is even more for the Grand Finalists who would have played more prime time games during the year.

Look at the below two images. The first one is Eric Hipwood's goal from the 2024 Grand Final. You know the one thing you can't see? The FRIGGIN BALL! Where is the ball? The red ball is totally lost against the sea or red and maroon in the crowd. And it would be even worse if the Sun wasn't behind a cloud causing shadows everywhere. Look at how much clearer and aesthetically pleasing the second image is with the clear yellow ball, no shadows on the ground. It's objectively better for TV. Anyone who says it's not is lying, in denial, or is an idiot. Night footy is amazing for television.

View attachment 2566207

View attachment 2566210


The AFL Grand Final might be the premier event but it's not the premiere event "because" it's played during the day. It's the premiere event in spite of it being played during the day. All the big sporting events are at night: The Superbowl, the NRL Grand Final and all three State of Origin, The Champions League Final, all 7 games of the NBA Finals, all 7 games of the World Series, The Soccer World Cup Final etc etc.

The only event I can think of that is played during the day is the FA Cup Final and even that is only the third biggest trophy to win (behind the league title and Champions League). There is not a single event I can think of that is the BIGGEST trophy to win for that sport that is played during the day. All the biggest events are at night, where they belong.



You sound like a total regressive. 70% of games are at night now. If you like day footy so much, why not advocate for the all finals to be played during the day or would that make you a hypocrite?

Just get into the modern day and play the god damn game at night where it belongs.

You've been very selective in your images there. It is not UNARGUABLE that footy looks better at night, it's very much subjective and preferential.

I personally much prefer watching sport at day compared to night and think it almost always looks better.

 

[revo333]

I've always found it curious that the majority of finals are twilight or night games, but the Grand Final is the only day game during the finals series.
I've wondered if that makes any difference to the teams, in adjusting on Grand Final day.

The last time a non Grand Final final started at 2:30pm Eastern was 2013, with a 2:45pm start in the 2014 Quali.

I think I've heard Adam Simpson used that as a little excuse about the 98 grand final.

 

[Bjo187]

Ratings are significantly higher at night. That's why it's called Prime Time and that's why the AFL schedule all the other finals at night



Entertainment has negligible interest to the footy purists like those on bigfooty, but got the average normie, yes the entertainment is a million times better at night. The lighting the fireworks, it's clearly better at night. Everyone knows that.



I don't even know what the hell you are talking about there. The aesthetics are unarguably better at night with the bright yellow ball, no shadows from the sun. That's why footy looks better at night. And yes, it's fairer, because 70% of all games are already played at twilight/night with a yellow ball which is even more for the Grand Finalists who would have played more prime time games during the year.

Look at the below two images. The first one is Eric Hipwood's goal from the 2024 Grand Final. You know the one thing you can't see? The FRIGGIN BALL! Where is the ball? The red ball is totally lost against the sea or red and maroon in the crowd. And it would be even worse if the Sun wasn't behind a cloud causing shadows everywhere. Look at how much clearer and aesthetically pleasing the second image is with the clear yellow ball, no shadows on the ground. It's objectively better for TV. Anyone who says it's not is lying, in denial, or is an idiot. Night footy is amazing for television.

View attachment 2566207

View attachment 2566210


The AFL Grand Final might be the premier event but it's not the premiere event "because" it's played during the day. It's the premiere event in spite of it being played during the day. All the big sporting events are at night: The Superbowl, the NRL Grand Final and all three State of Origin, The Champions League Final, all 7 games of the NBA Finals, all 7 games of the World Series, The Soccer World Cup Final etc etc.

The only event I can think of that is played during the day is the FA Cup Final and even that is only the third biggest trophy to win (behind the league title and Champions League). There is not a single event I can think of that is the BIGGEST trophy to win for that sport that is played during the day. All the biggest events are at night, where they belong.



You sound like a total regressive. 70% of games are at night now. If you like day footy so much, why not advocate for the all finals to be played during the day or would that make you a hypocrite?

Just get into the modern day and play the god damn game at night where it belongs.

Yeah picking up the red ball in the bright sunlight with the crowd in the background is atrocious viewing. It's almost better when it's a cloudy day game, but then it looks drab. The night game the weather doesn't matter, it still looks good and the yellow ball stands out nicely.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Ratings are significantly higher at night. That's why it's called Prime Time and that's why the AFL schedule all the other finals at night



Entertainment has negligible interest to the footy purists like those on bigfooty, but got the average normie, yes the entertainment is a million times better at night. The lighting the fireworks, it's clearly better at night. Everyone knows that.



I don't even know what the hell you are talking about there. The aesthetics are unarguably better at night with the bright yellow ball, no shadows from the sun. That's why footy looks better at night. And yes, it's fairer, because 70% of all games are already played at twilight/night with a yellow ball which is even more for the Grand Finalists who would have played more prime time games during the year.

Look at the below two images. The first one is Eric Hipwood's goal from the 2024 Grand Final. You know the one thing you can't see? The FRIGGIN BALL! Where is the ball? The red ball is totally lost against the sea or red and maroon in the crowd. And it would be even worse if the Sun wasn't behind a cloud causing shadows everywhere. Look at how much clearer and aesthetically pleasing the second image is with the clear yellow ball, no shadows on the ground. It's objectively better for TV. Anyone who says it's not is lying, in denial, or is an idiot. Night footy is amazing for television.

View attachment 2566207

View attachment 2566210


The AFL Grand Final might be the premier event but it's not the premiere event "because" it's played during the day. It's the premiere event in spite of it being played during the day. All the big sporting events are at night: The Superbowl, the NRL Grand Final and all three State of Origin, The Champions League Final, all 7 games of the NBA Finals, all 7 games of the World Series, The Soccer World Cup Final etc etc.

The only event I can think of that is played during the day is the FA Cup Final and even that is only the third biggest trophy to win (behind the league title and Champions League). There is not a single event I can think of that is the BIGGEST trophy to win for that sport that is played during the day. All the biggest events are at night, where they belong.



You sound like a total regressive. 70% of games are at night now. If you like day footy so much, why not advocate for the all finals to be played during the day or would that make you a hypocrite?

Just get into the modern day and play the god damn game at night where it belongs.

Why do you love fireworks so much? You constantly use the argument about the 'fireworks looking better at night' as a KEY reason for the necessity of change.

Who the hell honestly cares? The GAME is the entertainment. The entertainment itself is secondary. The fireworks are only on the podium of significance if you you're only considering those 3 things.

 

[Osho]

Indeed, I welcome young and sexy vampires to all future evening AFL GFs.

 

[Dan26]

Why do you love fireworks so much? You constantly use the argument about the 'fireworks looking better at night' as a KEY reason for the necessity of change.

Who the hell honestly cares? The GAME is the entertainment. The entertainment itself is secondary. The fireworks are only on the podium of significance if you you're only considering those 3 things.

I dont give a stuff about fireworks. I am simply making the point the entertainment (for those that care about it) is unarguably better at night.

The AFL decided, in their wisdom that Saturday afternoon is such a complete TV wasteland, that they got rid of all free-to-air footy on Saturdays. And rightly so. Then, these idiots decided that the very same wasteland timeslot is what should be used for the biggest game of the year, even though ALL THE OTHER FINALS ARE PLAYED AT NIGHT,

Playing the Grand Final on a Saturday afternoon is simply the most idiotic, stupid, game-hurting piece of crap you expect form people who seem to be doing everything in their power to ensure that the biggest game of the year is NOT watched by the most amount of people it potentially could be.

It's the God Damn Grand Final for crying out loud. Play it in Prime time, like you know.... EVERY OTHER MAJOR EVENT IN THE WORLD.

 

[bungalow_bill]

How will one match being played at night rather than afternoon be more beneficial for the game exactly?

Seriously other than adding probably 200-300k extra viewers on TV what else will it do for the sport and the league?

Genuinely interested to hear legit points as to how this is broadly beneficial outside of a bit of spike in potential ratings.

I can't imagine it's going to lead to a better style of play...or international exposure...or suddenly make someone who dislikes the sport suddenly enjoy it...raise the standard of umpiring...or reverse the downward trend of indigenous players being drafted for example

All it would benefit is Ch 7 and by extension more $ for the AFL.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Why do you love fireworks so much? You constantly use the argument about the 'fireworks looking better at night' as a KEY reason for the necessity of change.

Who the hell honestly cares? The GAME is the entertainment. The entertainment itself is secondary. The fireworks are only on the podium of significance if you you're only considering those 3 things.

Only infants and waterheads get excited by fireworks.