AFL fails to ignite the Qld public
Thomas Arup | March 30, 2008
THE AFL's claims of widespread support for a second Queensland team will come under scrutiny after the Brisbane Lions-Collingwood game on Friday night was beaten in the ratings by more than three-to-one by the telecast of the NRL game in Brisbane between the Broncos and Townsville.
A Channel Seven spokesperson yesterday said the Lions-Pies two-point thriller averaged 96,000 viewers in the Queensland capital, compared to 327,000 for the Broncos' 36-2 win over the Cowboys. The figures were confirmed by a Channel Nine representative.
"It is the first time we have gone live on a Friday night," the AFL's chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan said yesterday. "It's unfortunate that the game clashed with a local derby, but the Lions will continue to have strong support in Queensland."
The figures are disappointing for the AFL, which is seeking to install a second AFL side on the Gold Coast by 2011.
Speaking on ABC radio on Friday night, Graeme Downie, a key player in the consortium hoping to establish a Gold Coast team, said he believed the AFL was fighting a "rear-guard action" against rugby league in the area. "Rugby league to a large extent captured the hearts and minds of a lot of Gold Coasters," Downie said.
While the Lions-Pies match wasn't among the top-10 rating shows in Brisbane, it was the highest rating show in Melbourne with an average of 474,000 viewers 100,000 more than any other show.
The NRL derby was played on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Queensland Rugby League and was the highest rating show in Brisbane on Friday.
The AFL match at the Gabba had just over 33,000 spectators; the Broncos-Cowboys match at Suncorp Stadium had a near capacity crowd of 50,000 a Broncos club record.
The two games were of markedly different quality the derby quickly became a disappointing 34-point blow-out, while the Lions stormed home in the final quarter to win by two points.
Downie, a former Brisbane Lions chairman, said on Friday that the AFL had not officially researched the level of support for a Gold Coast team, a comment strongly denied by McLachlan yesterday.
"That's absolutely wrong," McLachlan said. "We have been doing detailed brand and support research for over five years."
When asked if research showed support for a Gold Coast team McLachlan said: "Absolutely, there seems to be a lot of support. We have had that on the public record for some time."
Last week, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the foundations of a Gold Coast team could be established as early as next year, with the side to play in the local Queensland league and the appointment of key administrative staff.
Demetriou played down reports the Gold Coast team would have to play at the Gabba in Brisbane until 2016 due to a contract with the Queensland Government.
"We're very confident in our ability to make sure that we respect the terms of an agreement, but at the same time you can always re-negotiate," Demetriou said.
