Bring Back The Daytime Grand Final!!

[firechild]

With the whole eastern seaboard directly involved in some way in the NRL gf it was an opportunity to have a higher overall tv ratings figure than the other code's grand final. To have Melbourne and North Qld playing and Sydney hosting should have reaped bigger ratings figures. The ratings figures in Melbourne were good and this was the good story of the figures for RL. The game in Sydney despite no Sydney club participating had a poor figure for tv ratings. This is a concern. Pretty sure other gfs with no Sydney sides participating have had bigger numbers on tv. Its something worth noting. And 6pm might also be a good timeslot for future GF’s given the daylight saving impact on this day.

Except that for most people who would occasionally care, it was an AIDS vs Cancer type grand final. Loads of neutrals in Sydney just wouldn't have bothered this year.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Except that for most people who would occasionally care, it was an AIDS vs Cancer type grand final. Loads of neutrals in Sydney just wouldn't have bothered this year.

Its disappointing that people would switch off just because there are no Sydney teams involved. It's still a Grand Final, the biggest game of the year. What else would they be doing on a Sunday night that it would trump a Grand Final? Fickle supporters in Sydney it seems, hardly an endorsement as the home of the sport.

 

[firechild]

Its disappointing that people would switch off just because there are no Sydney teams involved. It's still a Grand Final, the biggest game of the year. What else would they be doing on a Sunday night that it would trump a Grand Final? Fickle supporters in Sydney it seems, hardly an endorsement as the home of the sport.

Every spot and every location has plenty of bandwagoners that only watch games that interest them. An all Sydney GF will get lower ratings in QLD than the 2015 GF so you can get off your high horse. A game that was destined to be one sided from the outset is not going to garner the interest that a genuine contest would. As for what they'd do instead, anything that they'd do on any other Sunday night.

 

[stormbati]

Twilight/night. Still dark.

Oh, I left by then lol

 

[Perth Red]

Its disappointing that people would switch off just because there are no Sydney teams involved. It's still a Grand Final, the biggest game of the year. What else would they be doing on a Sunday night that it would trump a Grand Final? Fickle supporters in Sydney it seems, hardly an endorsement as the home of the sport.

I don't understand how you can be a rugby league fan and not be interested in a grand final? They had the inoffensive cowboys to cheer for as underdogs after all. Why if you're from Sydney would you be less interested just because there is no Sydney team in it? Makes no sense to me!

Those tv ratings are shthouse, we lost most finals game in attendances and ratings, looks like Murdochs master plan to make the other game the most popular is working.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

I don't understand how you can be a rugby league fan and not be interested in a grand final? They had the inoffensive cowboys to cheer for as underdogs after all. Why if you're from Sydney would you be less interested just because there is no Sydney team in it? Makes no sense to me!

Those tv ratings are shthouse, we lost most finals game in attendances and ratings, looks like Murdochs master plan to make the other game the most popular is working.

I guess some people have more interest than others. Haven't missed a Grand Final since the Storm entered the comp. Its the biggest game of the year, if you're any type of fan its a must see game. Must be a lot of fickle support at the home of the game...

 

[firechild]

I guess some people have more interest than others. Haven't missed a Grand Final since the Storm entered the comp. Its the biggest game of the year, if you're any type of fan its a must see game. Must be a lot of fickle support at the home of the game...

In 2015 939,000 people in Brisbane watched the Donkeys play in a GF. In 2016 it was only 810,000 watching a neutral GF (imagine how low it would have been if they didn't have their QLD heroes playing for the Storm). No shortage of fickle supporters north of the border.

 

[Thadius]

3pm was always the best time to play your Grand Final and still is.

Alas as mentioned, TV owns the game now and Greenburg is such a 'soft cock' that the TV networks can bounce him head first through hoops and he'll cop it sweet.

When he and his cronies finally wake up, smell the roses and realise that their fan base love Sunday afternoon football, they might grow some and run three games on a Sunday and flick the absurd Thursday night schedule.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

In 2015 939,000 people in Brisbane watched the Donkeys play in a GF. In 2016 it was only 810,000 watching a neutral GF (imagine how low it would have been if they didn't have their QLD heroes playing for the Storm). No shortage of fickle supporters north of the border.

I'm sure you're going to get that across most cities and most sports depending on who's playing, but am I correct in saying that there was only about 150k or so difference between Sydney viewing numbers and Melbourne/Brisbane numbers? Considering population differentials and the perceived population in those cities, that appears fairly low for Sydney? Apologies if I'm off the mark there.

 

[firechild]

I'm sure you're going to get that across most cities and most sports depending on who's playing, but am I correct in saying that there was only about 150k or so difference between Sydney viewing numbers and Melbourne/Brisbane numbers? Considering population differentials and the perceived population in those cities, that appears fairly low for Sydney? Apologies if I'm off the mark there.

But your point was specifically about people in Sydney not watching because there was no Sydney team. Only 671,000 people in Brisbane watched the GF this year. Almost 30% less than the last time Brisbane played in the GF. I am not surprised by that at all and I don't think it suggests fans are fickle. Some people just aren't that into rugby league but they'll watch if their team is playing (grand final or not).

 

[Captain Apollo]

I was at the 2008 GF as much as I'd like to forget but pretty sure it wasn't a night game.

You were correct. Kick-off time for the 2008 NRL Grand Final was 5.00 pm (AEDT).

Source: https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/...nal/manly-warringah-vs-melbourne/summary.html

 

[footy75]

The problem is that it doesn't rate better.

The last two seasons daytime grand finals of another code has easily out rated night time grand finals.

And funnily enough that particular code is experiencing increased ratings and participation whereas rugby league is stagnating or going backwards?

I think you will find the NRL grand final rates better than the AFL.This happened when it was switched to night. Night grand Finals will always dominate tv ratings.The NRL has got this right.

 

[Stallion]

I think you will find the NRL grand final rates better than the AFL.This happened when it was switched to night. Night grand Finals will always dominate tv ratings.The NRL has got this right.

Not for the last two years!

 

[DC_fan]

Except that for most people who would occasionally care, it was an AIDS vs Cancer type grand final. Loads of neutrals in Sydney just wouldn't have bothered this year.

Near 83,000 attended in 2015 when the Cowboys played the Broncos. Outside of the Storm being there this season instead of the Broncos, what was different between the two years?

 

[firechild]

Storm premiership was a forgone conclusion. I wasn't talking about attendance but I guess the same points are relevant. There was a bit of anticipation about a Cowboys fairy tale up against big brother (who most people in Sydney loathe) but this year had none of that.

My only consideration about this year's gf for me was whether the margin was going to be over 40 points (I wanted no sort of redemption for '08 for the purple scum).

 

[Perth Red]

I'm sure you're going to get that across most cities and most sports depending on who's playing, but am I correct in saying that there was only about 150k or so difference between Sydney viewing numbers and Melbourne/Brisbane numbers? Considering population differentials and the perceived population in those cities, that appears fairly low for Sydney? Apologies if I'm off the mark there.

Mediaweek @MediaweekAUS·
Oct 2

Sun TV: #NRLGF #WWOS 3.399m Metro 2.325m (Syd 813k Mel 644k Bri 671k Ade 86k Per 112k) Regional 1.074m

 

[Perth Red]

I think you will find the NRL grand final rates better than the AFL.This happened when it was switched to night. Night grand Finals will always dominate tv ratings.The NRL has got this right.

Seems that has swung.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

NRL
2013 - The SBW GF.
2014 - Souffs fairy tale
2015 - Cowboys first title [broke 20 year drought] vs Big Brother Brisbane
2016 - Sharks first title [broke 50 season/49 year drought] vs Big Bad Storm
2017 - Cowboys (coulda been a fairytale, but clawed their way to GF) vs Big Bad Storm who dominated all 2017 and was a perfect example of having first past the post win the shield in 2017.

AFL
2013 - Hawks vs Freo [Note - Hawks lost 2012 too vs Sydney]
2014 - Hawks vs Sydney
2015 - Hawks vs West Coast [Note - people starting to tire of the Hawks dominance]
2016 - Bulldogs fairytale - broke 62 year premiership drought vs Sydney
2017 - Tigers fairytale - broke 37 year premiership drought vs Sydney

So on the balance of GFs...the NRL had 3 fairytale type GFs in a row (2014-16), sharing the 3rd with 2 AFL fairytale type GFs (2016-17) (and both long suffering Melbourne teams).

And despite the AFL's supposed expansion being better than NRLs, their Sydney and 2 Perth teams didn't drag in bigger numbers for their GF, and someone can confirm if 2017's AFL GF brought in big SA / Adelaide numbers. Also, NRL is starting to get great numbers in Vic and good numbers in SA, WA, NT and something to build and - ahem - expand on.
And let's face it, AFL numbers are spread over 18 teams nationally whereas NRL it's over 16 teams in 3 states and 1 territory, and NZ (and have we included NZ figures for GF in any of the ratings since we actually do have a team there?!). And finally, the ratings have swung on options in regional areas due to WIN.

However improbable, my money is on Melbourne vs Brisbane AFL GF in 2018 and a Parramatta vs Warriors/Cowboys NRL GF in 2018.

 

[Stallion]

NRL
2013 - The SBW GF.
2014 - Souffs fairy tale
2015 - Cowboys first title [broke 20 year drought] vs Big Brother Brisbane
2016 - Sharks first title [broke 50 season/49 year drought] vs Big Bad Storm
2017 - Cowboys (coulda been a fairytale, but clawed their way to GF) vs Big Bad Storm who dominated all 2017 and was a perfect example of having first past the post win the shield in 2017.

AFL
2013 - Hawks vs Freo [Note - Hawks lost 2012 too vs Sydney]
2014 - Hawks vs Sydney
2015 - Hawks vs West Coast [Note - people starting to tire of the Hawks dominance]
2016 - Bulldogs fairytale - broke 62 year premiership drought vs Sydney
2017 - Tigers fairytale - broke 37 year premiership drought vs Sydney

So on the balance of GFs...the NRL had 3 fairytale type GFs in a row (2014-16), sharing the 3rd with 2 AFL fairytale type GFs (2016-17) (and both long suffering Melbourne teams).

And despite the AFL's supposed expansion being better than NRLs, their Sydney and 2 Perth teams didn't drag in bigger numbers for their GF, and someone can confirm if 2017's AFL GF brought in big SA / Adelaide numbers. Also, NRL is starting to get great numbers in Vic and good numbers in SA, WA, NT and something to build and - ahem - expand on.
And let's face it, AFL numbers are spread over 18 teams nationally whereas NRL it's over 16 teams in 3 states and 1 territory, and NZ (and have we included NZ figures for GF in any of the ratings since we actually do have a team there?!). And finally, the ratings have swung on options in regional areas due to WIN.

However improbable, my money is on Melbourne vs Brisbane AFL GF in 2018 and a Parramatta vs Warriors/Cowboys NRL GF in 2018.

I like your thinking. Perhaps the grand final seemed to be contrived to an extent? I have this suspicion with the AFL competition. The last two GF winners have gone to areas that have been "neglected" for many years. The presence of the Storm is making progress for rugby league. I recall taking a train trip at the end of the South Eastern rail line in Melbourne and a young boy informed me that a rugby league club existed in the area. It was quite uplifting. This was last year . Coincidentally the AFL side that was responsible for development in this area won the grand final.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I didn't say they were contrived GFs at all.

It's just for 3 years, the NRL could push GFs that had something historic about them.

Whereas in AFL, this one and last year's could too.