Roast AFL 'round zero' What a load of crap ...

[Mitchell Madness]

All non-Vic sides do have a home game to open the season. Which ones missed out?

We're obviously not playing games in the NT in March.

Tail end of the wet season, and typically the cooler months for NT

 

[Jeremias]

Tail end of the wet season, and typically the cooler months for NT

Think the AFL would be keen to completely avoid wet season, tail end or otherwise.

 

[Underarm]

How often do the WA, SA, NSW and QLD teams all have home games on the same weekend?

Never, but that still doesn't make it a good idea. All journalists would be focused on the local game, and NSW and Qld have the least amount of local AFL journalists and would suffer.

 

[Jeremias]

Never, but that still doesn't make it a good idea. All journalists would be focused on the local game, and NSW and Qld have the least amount of local AFL journalists and would suffer.

What's the issue with local journalists focusing on their local games?

All games would be covered extensively nationally.

 

[Underarm]

What's the issue with local journalists focusing on their local games?

Nothing, unless the goal was to focus on areas that don't usually get alot of coverage which are huge growth areas for the AFL.

All games would be covered extensively nationally.

No, the big games would be covered extensively, and the smallest game would get smaller coverage. Which is what we get every other week of the season.

 

[Jeremias]

Nothing, unless the goal was to focus on areas that don't usually get alot of coverage which are huge growth areas for the AFL.

2 games in NSW, 2 games in QLD.

How exactly does that differ from this year which was supposed to have...2 games in NSW and 2 games in QLD?

No, the big games would be covered extensively, and the smallest game would get smaller coverage. Which is what we get every other week of the season.

Having a round split in such a way is not close to "what we get every other week of the season".

The round can be of enormous benefit to the QLD and NSW markets even if games are played in other states that same weekend.

 

[Astro35]

Just call it round 1 and get on with it.

 

[Underarm]

2 games in NSW, 2 games in QLD.

How exactly does that differ from this year which was supposed to have...2 games in NSW and 2 games in QLD?

And 2 games in SA and 2 games in WA and a game in Vic.

Unless you think all of the Vic based media just twiddled their thumbs this week?

Having a round split in such a way is not close to "what we get every other week of the season".

The round can be of enormous benefit to the QLD and NSW markets even if games are played in other states that same weekend.

But the least amount of distractions increases the benefit to the Northern clubs.

 

[Jeremias]

Unless you think all of the Vic based media just twiddled their thumbs this week?

I think they covered the games that were on, and had prepared to cover the games that were postponed.

Which they of course would also do under such a plan, particularly if you gave the QLD and NSW clubs access to marquee time slots.

 

[Billy ray]

split opening round 1

week 1 (4 games)
2 games nsw (Syd v Haw, GWS v Coll)
2 games qld (Bris v Gee, SUNS v Ess)

week 2 (5 games with remaining teams)
2 games WA (WC v NM, Freo v Saints)
2 games SA (Port v Rich, Adel v Carl)
1 game Ballarat (WB v Melb) on the Vic public holiday, only all Vic match up


round 2 normal and yeh, knock your socks off with 'tradition' of car v rich (both teams played in SA the weekend prior

 

[Underarm]

I think they covered the games that were on, and had prepared to cover the games that were postponed.

Which they of course would also do under such a plan, particularly if you gave the QLD and NSW clubs access to marquee time slots.

Yes, and they would focus on the 1 game in Melbourne, regardless of when it was played, instead of focusing on GC and GWS which is the point of opening round.

 

[Jeremias]

Yes, and they would focus on the 1 game in Melbourne, regardless of when it was played, instead of focusing on GC and GWS which is the point of opening round.

Well yes, the game in Victoria would get significant attention - no surprise there. It would likely be the marquee event regardless of the teams or time slot.

Most people think the current iteration of OR is a joke and are looking forward to the season getting underway in Melbourne this coming weekend. That isn't likely to change any time soon.

As for the "point of opening round", it extends beyond a focus on GC and GWS. I guess you're not happy with Sydney or Brisbane getting a game?

The fans shouldn't be held accountable for the league not being able to control its broadcasters.

 

[Obeanie1]

fair, as i said humidity would likely be off-putting.

All good.

It is getting worse too.

The last 4 months we have had 3 or 4 heat waves declared by BOM.

I was born here and can't recall it being so hot so often. And this wet season has been on and off. When it stops raining hello heat wave.

AFL players would cook here ATM.

 

[Underarm]

Well yes, the game in Victoria would get significant attention - no surprise there. It would likely be the marquee event regardless of the teams or time slot.

which is why anything other than the current setup is worse for what the AFL are trying to achieve.

Most people think the current iteration of OR is a joke and are looking forward to the season getting underway in Melbourne this coming weekend. That isn't likely to change any time soon.

Victoria still has r1, Easter Monday, Anzac day, KBD. God forbid the afl give something to a different state.

As for the "point of opening round", it extends beyond a focus on GC and GWS. I guess you're not happy with Sydney or Brisbane getting a game?

The fans shouldn't be held accountable for the league not being able to control its broadcasters.

Yes, it's for all 4 clubs, but those 2 specifically as that's where the biggest potential growth is.

 

[Obeanie1]

Yes, and they would focus on the 1 game in Melbourne, regardless of when it was played, instead of focusing on GC and GWS which is the point of opening round.

That's assuming fans of teams not involved become invested in those games and watch them.

I dropped around a mates place for 15 min who is a Pies supporter. That was the only minutes I watched on the weekend. And even then I wasn't watching the game.....just visiting.

 

[Jeremias]

Victoria still has r1, Easter Monday, Anzac day, KBD. God forbid the afl give something to a different state.

Oh, this old chestnut!

I have no issue with the AFL 'giving' something to a different state. I am a huge fan of Gather Round.

They've just completely botched the OR idea.

Try again.

 

[Underarm]

That's assuming fans of teams not involved become invested in those games and watch them.

I dropped around a mates place for 15 min who is a Pies supporter. That was the only minutes I watched on the weekend. And even then I wasn't watching the game.....just visiting.

Which is 15 minutes of AFL you watched than if Opening round didn't exist.

 

[brutus76]

I don't mind the concept.

Maybe next year have two games in SA and two games in WA For Round 0.

Then the year after have 2 games in Sydney and 2 games in QLD

 

[Foxman98]

It’s a shit concept that will never do anything,

The fact they think the crowd numbers in R1 last year had any correlation is embarrassing to say the least,

Have all the marquee games up north no one cares about that but if someone can please explain how Footscray hosting North at 4:40pm on a Sunday arvo stops some random in western Sydney to watching their plastic franchise I’d like to know,

The soon the afl admits they ****ed up shift Gold Coast to Tassie and GWS to Canberra the better instead they ruin the integrity of the comp more

 

[Gavin Excell]

The AFL tonight

"Well I think that went well "

 

[Madas]

All good.

It is getting worse too.

The last 4 months we have had 3 or 4 heat waves declared by BOM.

I was born here and can't recall it being so hot so often. And this wet season has been on and off. When it stops raining hello heat wave.

AFL players would cook here ATM.

Not saying you are wrong but I find it harder to handle the heat as I get older

And yes , playing AFL up there this time of year would be madness

 

[magpiemaniac44]

Just get rid of it. No hype around the start of the season at all

 

[GC2015]

Just get rid of it. No hype around the start of the season at all

It's funny because people said the same thing last year and then we saw this happen outside of QLD & NSW in round 1:

Thurs: Carlton v Richmond @ MCG - 83k
Fri: Collingwood v Sydney @ MCG - 78k
Sat: Essendon v Hawthorn @ MCG - 83k
Sat: Geelong v St Kilda @ GMHBA - 39k
Sun: Melbourne v Bulldogs @ MCG - 44k
Sun: Port Adelaide v West Coast @ AO - 33k
Sun: Fremantle v Brisbane @ PS - 40k

THE AFL has broken its all-time crowd record for a single round of football, with more than 413,000 people attending the nine games in round one.

Based on last year and very likely this year as well, it's a fallacy to say people are less interested in Round 1 due to the existence of Opening Round. If anything, it would appear Opening Round creates an even bigger motivational for footy goers in the southern states (Victorians in particular) to attend Round 1 games when compared to years prior. The AFL are probably thinking 'Oh, you feel like you're missing out? Great! Now you're more likely to go to the games this weekend.'

So go ahead and continue your Opening Round outrage, because the AFL knows that the outrage is very likely to result in record crowds the following week. Don't be surprised if we're talking about a new record for Round 1 crowds this time next week. As Andrew Dillon said, Opening Round is going to continue until the impressive crowds (in both OR and/or R1) stop showing up.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Thurs: Carlton v Richmond @ MCG - 83k
Fri: Collingwood v Sydney @ MCG - 78k
Sat: Essendon v Hawthorn @ MCG - 83k
Sat: Geelong v St Kilda @ GMHBA - 39k
Sun: Melbourne v Bulldogs @ MCG - 44k
Sun: Port Adelaide v West Coast @ AO - 33k
Sun: Fremantle v Brisbane @ PS - 40k

The first 4 games there didn't need a special round to help the hype of their first game along.

3 had big clubs as the home team at the G. Two of which against rivals.
While the 4th was unveiling a new stand in honour of a favourite son.

 

[Purple Suit]

It's funny because people said the same thing last year and then we saw this happen outside of QLD & NSW in round 1:

Thurs: Carlton v Richmond @ MCG - 83k
Fri: Collingwood v Sydney @ MCG - 78k
Sat: Essendon v Hawthorn @ MCG - 83k
Sat: Geelong v St Kilda @ GMHBA - 39k
Sun: Melbourne v Bulldogs @ MCG - 44k
Sun: Port Adelaide v West Coast @ AO - 33k
Sun: Fremantle v Brisbane @ PS - 40k

Based on last year and very likely this year as well, it's a fallacy to say people are less interested in Round 1 due to the existence of Opening Round. If anything, it would appear Opening Round creates an even bigger motivational for footy goers in the southern states (Victorians in particular) to attend Round 1 games when compared to years prior. The AFL are probably thinking 'Oh, you feel like you're missing out? Great! Now you're more likely to go to the games this weekend.'

So go ahead and continue your Opening Round outrage, because the AFL knows that the outrage is very likely to result in record crowds the following week. Don't be surprised if we're talking about a new record for Round 1 crowds this time next week. As Andrew Dillon said, Opening Round is going to continue until the impressive crowds (in both OR and/or R1) stop showing up.

This sort of demented Stockholm syndrome logic is terrible from the AFL. They are just rigging the fixture so they have big games as none of the minow’s are hosting an interstate team. They could get the same result without opening round buggering it up.