Play Nice 2022 AFL/AFLW Crowds/TV Ratings/Stream thread

[Stottzy]

I was expecting a crowd round 50k just due to poor weather, Hawks performance last week and covid. No rain probs would have put it over 50k. But AFL and clubs need to start doing everything they can to get supporters back to the grounds. Rivalries between teams need to be built up more from coaches and players. Need more Sheedy "Marshmallow" moments. Build up the tension more.

 

[Walshawk]

Take out Blues v Hawks and every other crowd is down 10% - 20% against expectations. Get used to it folks. Today was a great post-COVID19 crowd today considering how many people were away and forecast was 100% chance of rain all day. Atmosphere was electric.

 

[indianhawks]

Are people moving to regional area the reason for less crowds at the games this year?

 

[wagstaff]

Might be an overreaction on my behalf, but I think the AFL needs to start being proactive with getting crowd numbers back up.

I think there's enough evidence now that the numbers won't snap back to normal as it was pre-Covid.

Covid is still the biggest factor or me against going, especially how MCG/Docklands love to cut costs by shutting off sections of the ground and have people bunched in together.

The gradual phasing out of being able to walk up to go to a match on a whim is also a factor. Now there's a lot more pre-planning involved which makes it just one big hassle imo.

 

[Kangapirate]

If crowds werent restricted this time last year i think they'd be better than this season. I recall a lot of confidence had returned with Melbourne having gone months without a covid case in April 2021.

Now its a mixed bag of things, many are in enforced iso, those with underlying health concerns may not have the confidence to attend large gatherings, all a bi product of having 8-10k cases a day. Was really no such concern this time last year, even Anzac Day probably would have got 90k+ last year without the crowd cap.

 

[TigerRoar]

I also think victorians are slowly falling out of love with the game imo. Constant rule changes like stand, interpretations, 50s for ‘dissent’ are frustrating the average punter away from the game - both from watching on Tv and going there.

Early season hype usually brings in big crowds before winter sets in and that hasn’t happened this year. Will be interesting to see crowd numbers come mid/late season, but my guess is they drop further.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Covid is still the biggest factor or me against going, especially how MCG/Docklands love to cut costs by shutting off sections of the ground and have people bunched in together.

The gradual phasing out of being able to walk up to go to a match on a whim is also a factor. Now there's a lot more pre-planning involved which makes it just one big hassle imo.

Walk-up has been back since round 2. Scan in and stand on level 1 or proceed to level 4 (GA) if you have no reserved seat.
Closing off sections and people bunched in together, I haven't seen that this year in any great capacity, last year sure plenty of that.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

......

If you look at total crowds after Rd 4 its 1,166,542 vs 2019 total of 1,379,543 after 4 rounds or 213,001 less or over 50,000 less per round.

If over 22 rounds (removing and averaging the 6 games per bye rounds mid season) that 50k per round continues, it means a drop of over 1 million of total crowd. 2019 total minor round crowds were 6.9m so a drop of 1m to 1.1m puts the total back to 2003 and 2004 totals of 5.8m and 5.9m respectively.

Depending on the mix of $$ collected via pre sold memberships vs $$ collected at the gate, some clubs will find it tough, even though footy department spend has been slashed by over $3mil. Other stadium income stream yields will also be affected, depending on what deals are in place with stadium owners.

Rd 5 2019 360,736 vs Rd 5 2021 285,366 so another round over 50,000+ less than compared to same round 2019. 2022 Total is 288k behind 2019. Covid impact will last all year I reckon.

Round 5
Brisbane	Collingwood	Gabba	32,312
North	Western Bulldogs	Docklands	32,162
West Coast	Sydney	Perth Stadium	42,888
St Kilda	Gold Coast	Docklands	18,724
Adelaide	Richmond	Adelaide Oval	33,091
Melbourne	GWS	M.C.G.	20,791
Carlton	Port Adelaide	M.C.G.	33,433
Essendon	Fremantle	Docklands	23,935
Hawthorn	Geelong	M.C.G.	48,030
Total	X	X	285,366

 

[MattF185]

The rule changes are definitely frustrating the average football fan. The other shocking rule is the protection zone of players when they take a mark - the fact an opposition can run past and have no intent on defending the ball carrier but still concede a 50 m penalty is mind boggling. The AFL have an issue on their hands. I for one have lost interest in attending matches which my team isn’t playing in.

 

[Billy ray]

‘Free to air’ games live against the gate are back to hurting attendances (like they did originally).

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[Gigantor]

So any crowd close to, or even above parity is a pretty good result.

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[Milang_Panthers]

I'll always watch on fox when it is live on 7. My internet can be a dogey at times meaning the picture quality can drop in and out but I'd rather that than watch sevens coverage. Easy choice.

 

[Rouel_14]

Anzac Eve sub 50k this weekend?

I wouldn’t have thought so until Hawks V Cats and a Richmond loss this week.

Anything plus 50k would be a fair result.


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[dave10]

Anzac Eve sub 50k this weekend?

I wouldn’t have thought so until Hawks V Cats and a Richmond loss this week.

Anything plus 50k would be a fair result.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Not a chance. Yesterday was rain impacted and it was seen as a mismatch. Richmond aren’t toast, at least not like Essendon is toast this year as a comparison of supporters not feeling good about their team and therefore most Tigers will turn up. The occasion now has cache and should certainly draw 70,000 or more. Anything less would be of concern.

 

[wagstaff]

I don't know whether many Richmond fans will turn out. Very few would believe they have a chance against the Demons as they've been a miles better side since start of last year.

And in this COVID era it's much easier to rationalise an excuse not to go and this match seems like a classic example for Tigers fans.

 

[Rouel_14]

Not a chance. Yesterday was rain impacted and it was seen as a mismatch. Richmond aren’t toast, at least not like Essendon is toast this year as a comparison of supporters not feeling good about their team and therefore most Tigers will turn up. The occasion now has cache and should certainly draw 70,000 or more. Anything less would be of concern.

2017 is still the only year it blew everyone out of the water. 87k rolled up, but other than that I would say it’s hovered around 60k, maybe 1 70k.

I hope your right with 70K but I think it will be much closer to 50K.


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[dave10]

2017 is still the only year it blew everyone out of the water. 87k rolled up, but other than that I would say it’s hovered around 60k, maybe 1 70k.

I hope your right with 70K but I think it will be much closer to 50K.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

If it only draws 50,000 it would be up there with the more disappointing crowds of the year. Weather forecasts fine. It will still draw a strong crowd.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

2017 is still the only year it blew everyone out of the water. 87k rolled up, but other than that I would say it’s hovered around 60k, maybe 1 70k.

I hope your right with 70K but I think it will be much closer to 50K.

Anzac Eve

2015 = Richmond vs Melbourne (58,175)
2016 = Melbourne vs Richmond (60,867)
2017 = Richmond vs Melbourne (85,657)
2018 = Melbourne vs Richmond (77,071)
2019 = Richmond vs Melbourne (72,704)
2021 = Melbourne vs Richmond (56,418) - Capped at 85%

 

[Rezza Tiger]

If it only draws 50,000 it would be up there with the more disappointing crowds of the year. Weather forecasts fine. It will still draw a strong crowd.

Crowds are cooked this year. The only game I can see getting over 70K in the near future is Anzac day. Beyond that only fixtures between the Vic big 4 form depending might be able to crack it. Carl v Coll is the next best chance on May 29.Dreamtime after that will probably only pull 60K unless both teams get cracking soon.

2017 is still the only year it blew everyone out of the water. 87k rolled up, but other than that I would say it’s hovered around 60k, maybe 1 70k.

I remember being adamant that 2017 game would easily top 70K while just about everyone else in here was saying no chance. Now I feel the opposite about this weeks game. I reckon you're about right with 50K being a fair result.

 

[Bjo187]

The AFL is struggling from covid but also from the fact all the big clubs are struggling, the same as last year bar Carlton.

Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond, West coast, Adelaide all mid to bottom teams.

 

[wagstaff]

Not a chance. Yesterday was rain impacted and it was seen as a mismatch. Richmond aren’t toast, at least not like Essendon is toast this year as a comparison of supporters not feeling good about their team and therefore most Tigers will turn up.

Since the start of last season Melbourne have won roughly double the amount of H&A games Richmond has. On paper this is a major mismatch, especially with Dustin Martin absent.

 

[dave10]

Since the start of last season Melbourne have won roughly double the amount of H&A games Richmond has. On paper this is a major mismatch, especially with Dustin Martin absent.

I agree on paper it’s a mismatch. All I’m saying is that Richmond’s form has been sporadic and unconvincing however, It’s still alive and still likely to find its way into the top 8 by seasons end.. This will and should still draw well. It’s going to be a beautiful night, it’s a Tigers home game and the Demons fans will fill the MCC members. It will also attract a level of additional neutral support as will be seen by a crowded AFL members.

Granted, if it wasn’t the ‘ANZAC Eve’ match and a marquee fixture I agree it would likely draw between 52-55,000. The fixture itself now has strong equity in its own right which will ensure it draws another 5-10,000 for the event.