Opinion Should Showdown 60 in round 16 this year be a standalone fixture?

[theprospector]

How good to see the AFL administration get booed on the big screen. What a disgrace this wasn't a standalone game.

 

[t_94]

I thought the actual standard of the game was quite poor. Two very average sides. Obviously a classic finish.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

If the Showdown is so good they should play it at 2:30AM on a Wednesday morning and see how many people turn up.

 

[Clark G]

It should but broadcasters have a big say like it or not.

 

[SC_Power]

If the Showdown is so good they should play it at 2:30AM on a Wednesday morning and see how many people turn up.

As should the Queens/Kings Birthday clash.

 

[SC_Power]

It should but broadcasters have a big say like it or not.

Basically they have the only say. If there’s something they want, they’ll just keep banging in about it in media circles until the AFL does it. Eg Wildcard Round. And eventually a night GF and extra time H&A.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

As should the Queens/Kings Birthday clash.

The King's Birthday clash sucks, it's always been a wankfest. No one has ever compared it to the Showdown.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

It's always a standalone game if you live in Adelaide. It's the only game they talk about.

 

[LOLchie Schultz]

It was the second best game on Fox last night so not sure how the AFL got it wrong.

But if it wasnt Freo playing, i would have been watching the Showdown, thats for sure!

 

[LOLchie Schultz]

Not this year but from next, I think the two clubs should merge their member seating and split the tickets 50-50. Maybe alternate by each bay, with a 50-50 on the hill.

Certainly balance and ramp up the crowd involvement, make the TV telecast even better, and it means that the crowd would be booing EVERY decision which would be interesting.

There will be more police separating the two fan bases than there would be fans.

You campaigners would kill each other!

That would work at a Derby because the WCE membership base are all senior citizens, and we very much respect our seniors!

 

[greatwhiteshark]

It was reported very recently that the tv execs did the numbers and they prefer nationally televised games to involve a Victorian club rather than the showdown. And just because one game was close doesn't mean the next game will be close.

Which simply points out how out of touch tv execs are. No idea about what the fans actually want. And I can prove they have no idea as they have never ever tried it.

 

[SC_Power]

There will be more police separating the two fan bases than there would be fans.

You campaigners would kill each other!

That would work at a Derby because the WCE membership base are all senior citizens, and we very much respect our seniors!

We’d be fine.
One bar for beer, one for chardonnay

 

[WhyAmIHere]

Why does it matter? The game tonight isn't on FTA either.

It matters as stand alone prime time games are attractive to sponsors and these funds are what allow the game to grow, develop, and continue. When there are natural, high interest games with compelling storylines - they should be maximized for the benefit of the game and all clubs (granted some benefit more than others).

Manufactured events reek of insincerity and push fans and sponsors away from the game, or more likely, towards indifference.

It matters because this is a genuine, organic marque event with genuine history and feeling. Bottle this sentiment and you have a great product. But you can’t bottle it. You can’t make neutrals care about St Kilda/Carlton as much as they love Hawthorn/Geelong clashes.

It matters.

 

[Underarm]

It matters as stand alone prime time games are attractive to sponsors and these funds are what allow the game to grow, develop, and continue. When there are natural, high interest games with compelling storylines - they should be maximized for the benefit of the game and all clubs (granted some benefit more than others).

Even if those games are behind a paywall?

It matters because this is a genuine, organic marque event with genuine history and feeling. Bottle this sentiment and you have a great product. But you can’t bottle it. You can’t make neutrals care about St Kilda/Carlton as much as they love Hawthorn/Geelong clashes.

It matters.

St kilda and Carlton have history going back to 1873. That's 5x as long as Port Adelaide and Adelaide.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

On a serious note, the other games in round 16 this year are:

Brisbane v Sydney @ Gabba
Carlton v West Coast @ Marvel
Collingwoof v Richmond @ MCG
Fremantle v Gold Coast @ Optus
Hawthorn v Greater Western Sydney @ MCG
North Melbourne v Essendon @ Marvel
BYE - Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda, Bulldogs

Brisbane v Sydney should probably be a prime time game, but surely none of those other games are big enough in 2026 to warrant standalone status ahead of the Showdown. Have the Showdown on Friday night standalone and Brisbane v Sydney on Thursday night.

Instead Collingwood v Richmond will no doubt be the Friday game and the Showdown Saturday night

 

[WhyAmIHere]

Even if those games are behind a paywall?

St kilda and Carlton have history going back to 1873. That's 5x as long as Port Adelaide and Adelaide.

It is ok if the game is behind a paywall - but I think if it a stand alone Friday night broadcast it is free to air.

St Kilda and Carlton may have 100 year plus relationship, but it is not a rivalry and is nothing like the Carlton/Collingwood, Essendon/Hawthorn, Port Adelaide/Adelaide, or St Kilda/Northern Academy Concession relationships. It's a fizzier of an event. The Western Bulldogs/GWS is even shorter, but a more meaningful rivalry.

 

[010203]

1 showdown a year should be shown nationally on channel 7 and if Victorians are too insular to watch, that's their problem.

 

[Iridescence]

It's always a standalone game if you live in Adelaide. It's the only game they talk about.

Not in my household. My husband is a Geelong supporter, so all I hear about is Easter Monday.

 

[JayJ20]

Can't wait for Dreamtime at the G this year, promises to be glorious

You don't like comedy?

 

[KanesBurner]

Genuine question is it a contractural obligation to have a VIC team playing in prime time slots to show in Victoria? I think it’s more to do with the TV rights holders than the AFL tbh.

Are VIC fans that insulated that they wouldn’t watch a Showdown/Derby/Bris Vs Swans prime time game because it didn’t have a VIC team? Seems incredibly weird from the outside.

 

[kirky]

If the Showdown is so good they should play it at 2:30AM on a Wednesday morning and see how many people turn up.

Will still pack the stadium out.

It matters not when.

 

[kirky]

St kilda and Carlton have history going back to 1873. That's 5x as long as Port Adelaide and Adelaide.

What, based on who has won the most wooden spoons?

 

[kirky]

Forgot we were in the dreamtime thread

Has there ever been a close “dreamtime game”?

 

[lalorGOAT]

Has there ever been a close “dreamtime game”?

Yes several

 

[crowman2]

1 showdown a year should be shown nationally on channel 7 and if Victorians are too insular to watch, that's their problem.

That’s the point I really don’t care if it’s a stand alone game or not.

Everyone in Adelaide knows it’s the only game they will be watching, if the rest of Australia want to watch where there’s a will there is a way.

Broadcasters will have to pay for it and the AFL will benefit no different to playing two showdowns every year the AFL benefits not sure if it’s great for both clubs they are hard fought games