Opinion Commentary & Media VIII

[TennisPlayerAndy]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1452438
Another victory for those young kids who’d never make it through…

 

[muttley45]

That's an absolute abomination of a situation re: FTA broadcasts!!!!!!

Yep, but as they say every cloud.................., we will miss out on a lot of Brayshaw and Cornes commentary as a little bonus.

 

[Samsquanch]

Yep, but as they say every cloud.................., we will miss out on a lot of Brayshaw and Cornes commentary as a little bonus.

I see the benefits. You're 100% right. Not to mention BT and Richardson.

 

[gokangas]

No comment from the club so far.​

​

Media Street: How the broadcasters took control of the 2026 AFL fixture​

Has Channel 7’s billion-dollar broadcast deal delivered a knockout fixture blow to the clubs that banned their main man in 2025? There’s no coincidences in the Thursday night footy fightback.
Scott GullanMedia Street

November 14, 2025 - 5:00AM

When it comes to the AFL draw and its broadcast partnerships, one should never believe in coincidences.
Channel 7 forked out billions with Foxtel in the most recent TV rights deal so that brings with it a fair bit of clout on the negotiation table.
Now, let’s play a little Q & A game.
Question: Which clubs did Ch 7 fight with this season?
(More specifically which clubs did Seven’s main man Kane Cornes fight with).
Answer: North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.



Question: Which club has the toughest draw in 2026?
Answer: That will be the Western Bulldogs whose coach had a fiery run-in with Cornes during the year and then banned the commentator from their rooms.
Question: Which club has no primetime Thursday night or Friday night slots?

Answer: North Melbourne. The club who actually came out and banned Cornes.
This is where we should add one of those legal notes. Not for one second does the Herald Sun suggest Ch 7 asked specifically for the above circumstances to play out but . . . .

There is no coincidence in the fightback of Thursday night football next year.
Don’t worry the AFL had their tails between their legs by the end of this season and didn’t have to wait for their broadcast partners to produce their wish list for the next year.
To their credit it’s certainly a massive over-correction in 2026 with seemingly not one potential stinker in the opening 15 rounds. Wind the clock back 12 months and the broadcasters were smelling a rat well before anyone else.
The Essendon and Carlton love fest in the critical Thursday and Friday slots had their alarm bells ringing in November and they were proved on the money.
What has clearly been spelt out to league headquarters is that in the eyes of the TV execs Thursday night sets the tone for the entire round and they lost all momentum early last season and struggled to get it back.
For Fox Footy, they are set to reap the rewards of the building blocks they did with ‘Super Saturday’ this year where they are the only network showing games.
They were happy with the ratings and saw some early big games as crucial for luring subscriptions and nailing down the concept.
Last year they were only allocated one game on Ground Zero (which didn’t happen because of the cyclone) whereas in 2026 they start their season with the elimination final re-match of GWS Giants v Hawthorn and then reigning premiers Brisbane unfurling their premiership flag against the Western Bulldogs.

And then in Round 1 the Saturday night match is an old-fashioned grudge match between Collingwood and Adelaide.
Other enticing Saturday night games include Geelong v Collingwood (Rd 9) and Western Bulldogs v Collingwood (Rd 12).
Seven are keen to build on Sunday nights with the games mainly interstate working in with public holidays the next day which makes sense to everybody.
On paper the 2026 draw has broadcasters with a spring in their step but as one executive said: “There is still a lot of luck involved in it as well”.
Except if you’re the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne.

 

[perplexed]

No comment from the club so far.​

​

Media Street: How the broadcasters took control of the 2026 AFL fixture​

Has Channel 7’s billion-dollar broadcast deal delivered a knockout fixture blow to the clubs that banned their main man in 2025? There’s no coincidences in the Thursday night footy fightback.
Scott GullanMedia Street

November 14, 2025 - 5:00AM

When it comes to the AFL draw and its broadcast partnerships, one should never believe in coincidences.
Channel 7 forked out billions with Foxtel in the most recent TV rights deal so that brings with it a fair bit of clout on the negotiation table.
Now, let’s play a little Q & A game.
Question: Which clubs did Ch 7 fight with this season?
(More specifically which clubs did Seven’s main man Kane Cornes fight with).
Answer: North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.



Question: Which club has the toughest draw in 2026?
Answer: That will be the Western Bulldogs whose coach had a fiery run-in with Cornes during the year and then banned the commentator from their rooms.
Question: Which club has no primetime Thursday night or Friday night slots?

Answer: North Melbourne. The club who actually came out and banned Cornes.
This is where we should add one of those legal notes. Not for one second does the Herald Sun suggest Ch 7 asked specifically for the above circumstances to play out but . . . .

There is no coincidence in the fightback of Thursday night football next year.
Don’t worry the AFL had their tails between their legs by the end of this season and didn’t have to wait for their broadcast partners to produce their wish list for the next year.
To their credit it’s certainly a massive over-correction in 2026 with seemingly not one potential stinker in the opening 15 rounds. Wind the clock back 12 months and the broadcasters were smelling a rat well before anyone else.
The Essendon and Carlton love fest in the critical Thursday and Friday slots had their alarm bells ringing in November and they were proved on the money.
What has clearly been spelt out to league headquarters is that in the eyes of the TV execs Thursday night sets the tone for the entire round and they lost all momentum early last season and struggled to get it back.
For Fox Footy, they are set to reap the rewards of the building blocks they did with ‘Super Saturday’ this year where they are the only network showing games.
They were happy with the ratings and saw some early big games as crucial for luring subscriptions and nailing down the concept.
Last year they were only allocated one game on Ground Zero (which didn’t happen because of the cyclone) whereas in 2026 they start their season with the elimination final re-match of GWS Giants v Hawthorn and then reigning premiers Brisbane unfurling their premiership flag against the Western Bulldogs.

And then in Round 1 the Saturday night match is an old-fashioned grudge match between Collingwood and Adelaide.
Other enticing Saturday night games include Geelong v Collingwood (Rd 9) and Western Bulldogs v Collingwood (Rd 12).
Seven are keen to build on Sunday nights with the games mainly interstate working in with public holidays the next day which makes sense to everybody.
On paper the 2026 draw has broadcasters with a spring in their step but as one executive said: “There is still a lot of luck involved in it as well”.
Except if you’re the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne.

Meh. When we start playing watchable football and winning a few games we'll deserve to get prime slots. Right now we don't.

 

[Makeshift Park]

What has clearly been spelt out to league headquarters is that in the eyes of the TV execs Thursday night sets the tone for the entire round and they lost all momentum early last season and struggled to get it back.

Gee media execs can talk a lot of shit.

I’d love to see the data supporting 7’s argument here.

Kayos AFL ratings are up massively in 2025 because Fox actually show all the games, and with better commentary and analysis than 7.

7 meanwhile is left trying to find scapegoats for their dwindling relevance as their tv advertising clients continue to desert them.

 

[Hop_lessly Devoted]

Easier for them to ignore our annual MOTY and GOTY contenders

 

[King Corey]

Meh. When we start playing watchable football and winning a few games we'll deserve to get prime slots. Right now we don't.

I will virtually chin the next campaigner who says this.

Onfield output has absolutely no bearing on fixturing for any other club.

We shouldn't have to 'earn' a fair fixture (travel, football and commercially speaking).

 

[gokangas]

Meh. When we start playing watchable football and winning a few games we'll deserve to get prime slots. Right now we don't.

I agree - but it won't help our sponsors to have virtually no FTA. We should be screaming.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Club won't, but should be kicking up a stink about this. We rely on support from low socio economic areas. Only one free to air match is a ****ing joke.

I couldn't care less about to FTA. The fact is we have double ups against Rich, Ess, Scat, We have ton of winnable games and things are looking up. I reckon we need to focus on the bigger picture, win a few games, have the faithful excited and turning up and we'll get 5 next year.

 

[Themanbun]

I've been that kid who can't afford to attend matches and whose family can't afford paid TV. It ****ing sucks. And my heart breaks for them only being able to watch their beloved club ONCE in a year. It's a ****ing disgrace. We talk a big game about being a club who supports social equity and the marginalised, and if we truly believe those values, I daresay there's few things more appropriate for a footy club with those values to kick up about.

All this social outreach we do, including giving some tickets to marginalised kids, what's the point if they can't tune in and watch us more than once a year?

There's no point getting your B Corp certification if you let this shit slide. Not saying we will let it slide, but I'm hoping it at least attracts comment from the club.

 

[perplexed]

I will virtually chin the next campaigner who says this.

Onfield output has absolutely no bearing on fixturing for any other club.

We shouldn't have to 'earn' a fair fixture (travel, football and commercially speaking).

Fixturing is fixturing, it isn't intended to be fair.

Some teams will always get better fixtures than us. However, performance does matter for fixtures. * and WC are two of the biggest clubs but are expected to suck next season, they've lost a heap of prime slots. If we continue to play unwatchable football we won't get good slots.

 

[Tiberius]

Hun's comments on our draw.

Thursday nights: 0

Friday nights: 0 (Good Friday afternoon game in round 4)

Marquee match-ups: Good Friday v Carlton (round 4), Brisbane (round 4), Carlton (round 6)

Who you play twice: Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney, West Coast,

When is your bye?: Round 12

Our say: If there was ever a draw to help a side bounce up the ladder, this is it. North only faces one 2025 finalist (Geelong)twice, and realistically only one other side (Sydney) that is widely expected to be in the finals mix. Double-ups against three of the other sides to finish in the bottom-four is a fixture that goes down easier than a cold beer on a hot day. Make sure you renew your Kayo subscription Roos fans: Good Friday is the only game scheduled for free-to-air and a Saturday night in round 3 is the only night match on the slate. Deservedly, the Roos are miles off Broadway.

So if I'm reading this correctly, we play 2 Marquee matches in the same round (round 4) and Carlton twice in three weeks, but Carlton aren't one of the teams we play twice. Even for the Herald Sun this is embarrassingly crap.

 

[toepoker]

I will virtually chin the next campaigner who says this.

Onfield output has absolutely no bearing on fixturing for any other club.

We shouldn't have to 'earn' a fair fixture (travel, football and commercially speaking).

Couldn't agree more. I used to look forward to the fixture coming out, could start planning trips etc. Now it just makes me angry (yes, grumpy old etc.). It's just another tool the AFL has at its disposal to entrench advantage and disadvantage amongst its chosen ones.
They actually could choose to make struggling clubs more attractive to free agents (under the system they designed) by taking them out of the boondocks and giving them a crack at the spotlight. But they choose not to.

 

[DuckYeah]

I've been that kid who can't afford to attend matches and whose family can't afford paid TV. It ****ing sucks.

Just head down to your local club, rsl, bowles, sports club and watch it for free. I did that for years and years. I might even do that again just to not hand over money to Kayo and give them the bird too..

Help yaself to the complimentary coffee machine in pokie venues and enjoy.

I encourage that and becaude we dont have night games people who are older and dont like late nights can take serious advantage of this

 

[DuckYeah]

Couldn't agree more. I used to look forward to the fixture coming out, could start planning trips etc. Now it just makes me angry (yes, grumpy old etc.). It's just another tool the AFL has at its disposal to entrench advantage and disadvantage amongst its chosen ones.
They actually could choose to make struggling clubs more attractive to free agents (under the system they designed) by taking them out of the boondocks and giving them a crack at the spotlight. But they choose not to.

Why would you want to watch us be pumped in the spotlight? I’d prefer to close the attention as much as possible.

 

[Themanbun]

Just head down to your local club, rsl, bowles, sports club and watch it for free. I did that for years and years. I might even do that again just to not hand over money to Kayo and give them the bird too..

Help yaself to the complimentary coffee machine in pokie venues and enjoy.

I encourage that and becaude we dont have night games people who are older and dont like late nights can take serious advantage of this

Surely you could understand why a 12 year old didn't want to go spend a Saturday night or Sunday evening at an RSL or sports club?

Bowls generally ain't accessible in poorer areas either.

 

[toepoker]

Why would you want to watch us be pumped in the spotlight? I’d prefer to close the attention as much as possible.

Under that model the circle of poverty just continues. Stay off broadway = less attractive to free agents = stay **** for extended period.
It'd be nice if they made at least one aspect of this stupidly compromised competition a level(ish) playing field

 

[King Corey]

Under that model the circle of poverty just continues. Stay off broadway = less attractive to free agents = stay **** for extended period.
It'd be nice if they made at least one aspect of this stupidly compromised competition a level(ish) playing field

We have been kneecapped by fixtures for years. It ain't conspiracy theory, it's conspiracy fact.

I did a post years ago about the high rate of our Round 1s being interstate vs any other Vic side. And that was when we were finalists or recent finalists. Every year we missed the chance to hit the season with a home game to kick things off.

Then you add in timeslots, number of trips, timing of trips etc, who you get where and you can push down a club perpetually.

Why did we get Hawks in Launceston but we never got them in Hobart? Why did we never get a JHFF home game grudge match when the emotion (and eyeballs) were maximised?

 

[KangaRooster]

Would it be fair to say that it is seriously under-reported that a free to stream, full game replay of every match is uploaded to AFL.com.au roughly 24-36hrs after its been played?

Sure, missing it live sucks and avoiding the results is almost impossible, but even the years when I've had access to a Kayo/Foxtel subscription, I've found myself missing a game live for whatever reason and catching up on the website rather than the streamers.

NBA League Pass has also had a single team package for years which is usually about half the price of their premium, and student discounts of 40%, we should be pushing the AFL for these concessions as consumers.

 

[heem]

Gee media execs can talk a lot of shit.

I’d love to see the data supporting 7’s argument here.

Kayos AFL ratings are up massively in 2025 because Fox actually show all the games, and with better commentary and analysis than 7.

7 meanwhile is left trying to find scapegoats for their dwindling relevance as their tv advertising clients continue to desert them.

Yes at $30 for 7 mths a year Kayo is well worth the cost of not listening to 7’s farcical commentary. BT is an irritant but he can call a great game when focused (eg our 2014 elimination final). But while very positively disposed and grateful to his leadership time at North, I still can’t fathom Brayshaw’s leading role and decades of success in his media and commentary role. He’s stilted, off-kilter and can deflate an exciting moment like the worst (eg see 2025 GF highlights video). Close to unlistenable.

 

[DuckYeah]

Why did we never get a JHFF home game grudge match when the emotion (and eyeballs) were maximised?

Because we’d make the boy cry and borderline unstable.. AFL just protecting his well being longevity

 

[Chip Scab1]

Fixturing is fixturing, it isn't intended to be fair.

Some teams will always get better fixtures than us. However, performance does matter for fixtures. * and WC are two of the biggest clubs but are expected to suck next season, they've lost a heap of prime slots. If we continue to play unwatchable football we won't get good slots.

This is very true on all levels.

1) it's not meant to be equitable.

2) We are coming, but from a long way back. Incremental increases should be welcomed from 2027 onwards, 3 in 2027, 4+ in 2028.

If we improve and don't receive this, then we can kick up a stink. Always better to "negotiate" from a position of some power, rather than none. It's up to us to ensure our smallest crowd is still above 20,000. That needs to be our thinking moving forward.

Know your customer!

 

[Only Forwards]

Because we’d make the boy cry and borderline unstable.. AFL just protecting his well being longevity

there is not a North fan alive that has forgotten.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens. Especially should we win.

 

[DuckYeah]

there is not a North fan alive that has forgotten.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens. Especially should we win.