AFL Grand Final start time - Afternoon, twilight or night

[aCunningPlan]

After finally getting a 9-5 job where my weekends are free, I am all for an afternoon Grand Final.

 

[Billy ray]

2:08pm

 

[4tone]

Thank god the AFL won't take into account the dinosaurs who still want to eat burnt shit Bunnings style sausages at 1.30 and be totally paraletic by 4.30. twilight 5.30pm start all the way.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Twilight is my bet because it means kids can still watch it (night game they'd be in bed) and the 2nd half is under lights.

 

[JohnZ]

There's been a huge push from broadcasters for twilight or night Grand Finals to become the norm due to the increased TV ratings and revenue that it brings them.

I think the AFL will revert back to day Grand Finals for the remainder of the current TV deal, then force the broadcasters to pay extra for twilight/night Grand Finals in the next deal.

Sadly agree.

AFL has sold 7 on the benefits of a twilight/night grand final, but won't give it to them for free in an "undisrupted" season. Will 100% be changing in 2025 when the current broadcast deal is replaced.

 

[Tackle Bag]

We’ve been told for years how great a night or twilight final would be. Well both examples were decidedly underwhelming in terms of what extras were enjoyed.
Have it in the afternoon. End of story

 

[Demonic Ascent]

We’ve been told for years how great a night or twilight final would be. Well both examples were decidedly underwhelming in terms of what extras were enjoyed.
Have it in the afternoon. End of story

Yeah it doesn't matter what time of day it is Birds of Tokyo covering Silverchair is never gonna be a winner. Just give it up, you're not the Superbowl and never will be.

 

[JPetro83]

Not a fan of the 7-7.30pm time slot. I would love it to go back to a 2.30pm est time slot but i cant see the AFL doing that.. maybe a 5:30pm est time slot? twilight.

 

[Blackhawk42]

4:40 is as late as I could accept I reckon.

 

[Billy ray]

3:14

 

[Percel]

twilight or night, 1430 is for retirees, geriatrics and daytime pissheads.

Everything is better at night

 

[juss]

The majority want a day/afternoon Grand Final, it does not matter want individuals want, the collective majority points towards fans preferring the traditional day Grand Final.

It's disappointing that the AFL will make decisions purely on the TV ratings and rights if it changes.

 

[weewilly]

For all those living in the past the GF will be at night when the new TV deal is signed as the TV companies that prop up the AFL to the tune of hundreds of millions a year will demand it as part of the deal!It will also depend on how much this years day GF ratings drop.

The AFL and the clubs would go broke overnight without the TV money and as they say Money talks and BS walks!

So enjoy the last day time GFs while you can!

 

[Angus Young]

If you want ratings and a spectacle that non-football people may tune into (half time show etc with fireworks, lights etc) and people overseas you have to do it at prime time which is night...

If you don´t care about outside interests, ratings, more eyes on the game, lights/fireworks etc... keep it traditional time

To grow and evolve the smart option is night.

 

[Angus Young]

It's disappointing that the AFL will make decisions purely on the TV ratings and rights if it changes.

It´s a business.... and business is about generating money.

Not to mention growth of the game.

Thinking about myself.....day.

But If I´m the AFL I want as many eyes on the tv as possible.

 

[Blackhawk42]

If you want ratings and a spectacle that non-football people may tune into (half time show etc with fireworks, lights etc) and people overseas you have to do it at prime time which is night...

If you don´t care about outside interests, ratings, more eyes on the game, lights/fireworks etc... keep it traditional time

To grow and evolve the smart option is night.

How badly is that needed though? Non-football viewers? Does the Melbourne Cup being on a Tuesday afternoon stop people in QLD watching it?

I don't watch the NRL Grand Final because it's on a Sunday night. I'm getting organised for the week ahead. If it was played at 2:30pm either Saturday or Sunday I guarantee I'd be getting together with a couple of mates and watching it with a few beers.
The DAY component of Grand Final Day is largely ignored by the 'night is progress' crew. I've spent plenty of Grand Final days with non-footy fans who have found it a fantastic excuse to have a BBQ lunch, day drink a little then have the night free to do whatever they want.

You play it at 7:30 and you'll get the same crap we ended up with the past 2 years, which is a shorter celebration period following a full day of sitting around waiting for the game to start. It didn't work. We've tried it. It must return to its rightful timeslot or pivot slightly to a starting time that will allow it to finish no later than 7:30.

 

[Kram]

Playing it during the day is shit and your typical backwards thinking from the simple insular types.

Last year 100% showed how it should be done.

 

[Kram]

If the internet were around when we first switched to playing finals at night they would have been these types complaining about that desperately scared of change for no reason in particular.

 

[CobberRodgers]

Day footy just absolutely craps all over night footy. It's not even close.

Before everyone carries on, I am well aware that has no bearing on what the timeslot will be moving forward, it's all about $$$ and nothing else.

Should be: Afternoon

Will be: Twilight or night

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Afternoon has many fans, but many haters.
Night has many fans, and many haters
Twilight seems to have more impartial viewers from everyone (though, I'm a hater personally)

I personally prefer night games and want that over anything. BUT, I do see the arguments For Afternoons and against Nights, and will agree that it is a hindrance to many.

But end of the day, I feel we need to compromise and take the Twilight spot.
Afternoon screws over alot of people. But works for so many
Night screws over a fair amount of people, but works for so many (Including the networks which is why the push will happen year after year)

Twilight doesnt screw over many, but almost everyone would rather afternoons or nights.
But because it doesnt screw over too many, I believe we should just go with that time. Next to no one wants it, but I'd bet most would prefer Twilight as their #2 preference.

fwiw - I believe most that would prefer nights would also be the subset of fans least likely to be on BigFooty.

I'd rather Day or Night. Twilight really has this irrelevant Sunday home and away game aesthetic to me.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Leave it alone

 

[The_Wookie]

For all those living in the past the GF will be at night when the new TV deal is signed as the TV companies that prop up the AFL to the tune of hundreds of millions a year will demand it as part of the deal!It will also depend on how much this years day GF ratings drop.

The AFL and the clubs would go broke overnight without the TV money and as they say Money talks and BS walks!

So enjoy the last day time GFs while you can!

For all those making this assumption that its a fait accompli, Seven have been trying for night grand finals since the first night final was held in 1993. Sometimes its about money, sometimes its not. 50/50 which way the commission goes.

 

[Cleavy]

It was a long wait for the last two grand finals to start.

the (modern) build-up is terrible, aside from the Fox Footy Longest Kick competition. It's just hour upon hour of boring game preview. Give us a curtain raiser or something (and less of a pre-match concert).

 

[BigVic]

Bad news for traditionalists

My preference is of course an afternoon game starting at 2.30pm as it has been up to 2019Bc (before COVID)

After 2020, it’s been held at either night or twilight which isn’t the same. We don’t need fireworks or lights for the pre-match entertainment.

 

[Jatz]

Afternoon please. Think that's a pipe dream though.