This a very big wake up call for the smug AFL top brass who think the game is in rude health!
It isnt and the poor crowds for some games this season and ratings drop are danger signs that the product being dished up from most matches is just plain boring unless you are a rusted on club supporter.
One problem is that the AFL hierarchy dont have to try hard as the game relies on the billions of TV dollars that actually keeps the AFL afloat and leads to complacency and laziness.
Our unique game over the last 100 odd years was based on one on one contests and high marking and now due to coaching styles borrowed from other sports like soccer and basketball and bad umpire coaching those wonderful traits are in danger of going the way of the dodo.
Its no wonder people esp casual viewers are switching off in large numbers.Who likes to watch a game played only in one half of the ground like an under 12 game and basically over at half time?
A warning, when a sport start to lose core supporters its ten times harder to get them back.
There are plenty of examples of popular sports on TV and live that have died and never recovered their former glory when they lose their basic support. Shield cricket,boxing,horse racing,trotting and basketball are some that come to mind.All those sports had great support and large crowds at one time but not now.
It isnt and the poor crowds for some games this season and ratings drop are danger signs that the product being dished up from most matches is just plain boring unless you are a rusted on club supporter.
One problem is that the AFL hierarchy dont have to try hard as the game relies on the billions of TV dollars that actually keeps the AFL afloat and leads to complacency and laziness.
Our unique game over the last 100 odd years was based on one on one contests and high marking and now due to coaching styles borrowed from other sports like soccer and basketball and bad umpire coaching those wonderful traits are in danger of going the way of the dodo.
Its no wonder people esp casual viewers are switching off in large numbers.Who likes to watch a game played only in one half of the ground like an under 12 game and basically over at half time?
A warning, when a sport start to lose core supporters its ten times harder to get them back.
There are plenty of examples of popular sports on TV and live that have died and never recovered their former glory when they lose their basic support. Shield cricket,boxing,horse racing,trotting and basketball are some that come to mind.All those sports had great support and large crowds at one time but not now.
These boring games are taking their toll on the ratings, and if it wasnt for stadium upgrades in perth Adelaide and geelong in recent seasons the crowds would be lower too
