All year my youngest child has been bugging me to take her to a Roosters game.
But as she's 8 years old, taking her to a game that starts at 7.00pm on a Monday or 7.30pm on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night isn't an option. If I did that I wouldn't get home until after 10.30pm
So on Sunday I took her to Manly because that was about the only option I had before the season would end. Unfortunately, every other family had the same idea and the ground was so packed we couldn't get a decent view for someone of her size (the family hill was full and like a mud bath)
Of the 8 games in any round - 5 of them are played at times that are unfriendly for many families. Of the games that ARE family friendly two of them are usually between the lowest ranked teams in the competition or are reserved for teams where the weather is a major factor if played at night. That means the Warriors and Canberra are more likely to be scheduled during the day. If your team is one of the cellar dwellars and you're getting pumped every week - what incentive is there for a kid to want to go anyway? I can see it now.... "Oh dad, can you take me to see your pathetic team get their arses handed to them again? I love watching you scream at referees and cry when they lose you pathetic old has been twat"
This means ONE game a week is played at a family friendly times between teams that would actually get youngsters excited at the action
The rest are all played at night, when the ball is slippy, the stadiums are freezing and kids should be going to sleep. It's a f**king travesty
We should have a Saturday afternoon game and TWO Sunday games of IMPORTANCE. Espcially during the middle of winter. f**k off the useless Monday night fixture - it's absolute garbage
At the start and finish of the season when it's warmer / dryer - sure have more night games. Thats when the huge blockbuster action is on anyway that keeps the sponsors happy. But mid season we need to schedule more earlier Saturday and Sunday games. It makes for better games and more access for families.