AFL Grand Final start time - Afternoon, twilight or night

[timokane]

Remember it was always at 2:10pm bounce.
Since 2010 its been 2:30pm.
For me i like the traditional 2:10pm start.

 

[mouncey2franklin]

As much as i love tradition i felt a bit flat come 5pm Saturday arvo... like, i wish the day was longer. i am starting to change my tune.. i think a 5.15pm(est) GF would be the go.

Similar sentiments here.

I'm more traditionalist than most, but I have also changed my tune on the Grand Final time.

Twilight would be perfect.

Happy for it to stay in the afternoon as is, but if they were to change to twilight, I'd be all for it.

Not night time though. It is too late.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

What about moving the public holiday to the Monday. The public holiday isn’t really for the Grand Final - it’s really the old “Show Day” public holiday re-named.

The Melbourne Show runs to the 6th October.

The Grand Final could be on the Sunday evening, prior to the public holiday just like the NRL Grand Final is played the day before the Labour Day holiday in NSW.

You could probably generate a national audience of 5.5-6.0 million in that situation (the Grand Final rated 4.0 million)

Anyone remember the shitstorm in Qld when they didn't have the Monday off after the NRL GF until the last couple of years? Sunday night sure won't fly with the rest of the country just because Vic moves a public holiday.

 

[Cam Payne]

Remember it was always at 2:10pm bounce.
Since 2010 its been 2:30pm.
For me i like the traditional 2:10pm start.

I'm with you. Since changing the traditional start time, the entire league has become a farce.

 

[M Malice]

I am a fan of the afternoon timeslot but would not get my knickers in a knot over a (4.40pm at the latest) twilight bouncedown.

Not a fan of a night GF at all, lots of knots in knickers time.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Yes the actual football is better during the day

I've hated Geelong playing at night for years, I've always thought we play better footy in day games.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Remember the LOWEST ratings contests for Grand Final involve two Melbourne teams. The highest ratings Grand Finals historically) involve the NSW and Qld teams.

2019: Tigers v Giants 2,940,000
Day match, featuring NSW team. Would have got 4 million if a night. Poor ratings. A bad TV result

2020: Tigers v Cats 3,878,000 NIGHT
Two Vic teams. The worst match-up. Yet nearly 4 million because it was at night. Rated one-milion higher than the year before when the two biggest cities were represented, yet in this game only one city (Melbourne) was represented in the contest.

2021: Demons v Bulldogs 4,110,000 NIGHT
Two low supported Vic teams. The worst possible TV ratings match-up. Highest rated of of the last 5 years because it was at night.

2022: Cats v Swans 3,060,000
Day match. Swans involved. Should have got 500,000 more than a contest between two Vic teams, yet gets one million LESS than a night GF between two Vic teams the year before. An unmitigated ratings disaster. A ratings catastrophe. A total disaster.

2023: Magpies v Lions 4,003,000
A great rating helped by Collinwood's presence, the fact a Qld team was in it, and that it was close. Yet it still rated less than two low supported Vic clubs in 2021. Should have got 5 million at night. Melb vs Bulldogs outrated it for crying out loud and that 2021 match was a 74 point result

If you still think the Grand Final should be during the day after reading that, you are quite simply a moron.

2020 and 2021 people locked up with **** all else to do pumped the ratings. Fools gold for a garbage argument.

 

[BloodRet]

if there is any bit of dark in a grand final itll just be weird. its inevitable theyre going to change it from 2.30 in the coming years, a real shame in my opinion. 2020 sucked. so did 2021. just no vibes whatsoever

 

[rfc4eva]

but but but what about the fireworks looking better at night because at the end of the day its the Australian concert league isnt it

 

[peetoo]

but but but what about the fireworks looking better at night because at the end of the day its the Australian concert league isnt it

And a music concert in a stadium renown for its bad acoustics

 

[Dan26]

2020 and 2021 people locked up with **** all else to do pumped the ratings. Fools gold for a garbage argument.

That's a totally misleading narrative, used as an excuse by the pro-day Grand Final crowd. Whilst it's of course true that covid helped the audience, the facts are that night rates better than day with ALL TV programs. That's why it's called prime time. Channel 7 executives (and they would know, because it's their job) say that a twilight Grand Final would add 500,000 more and a night Grand Final would add 1 million.

Night rates better. Stop playing around with the covid excuse, as if that was the "only" reason.

 

[stevothedevo]

I'll never understand peoples want of a twilight/night GF by quoting TV viewership figures. Do you have shares in ch7 or something? What do you care how much money they make? Are you seriously afraid they'll go bankrupt if it stays a day grand final?

And then there's the fireworks crowd. Are they that important? Did your parents not take you enough as a child?

Or maybe it's the night party vibe. Even in my older age, this I kinda get. Partying is better at night. But is your nightlife that dull, only football is it's savior? Cocktails are still a thing after a day GF. You can kick on if you want.

Leave it as is and just send out some 'Are you OK day' shot glasses to the pro night GF brigade.

 

[kickazz]

I'll never understand peoples want of a twilight/night GF by quoting TV viewership figures. Do you have shares in ch7 or something? What do you care how much money they make? Are you seriously afraid they'll go bankrupt if it stays a day grand final?

Yeah I've always wondered this. Maybe just parroting stuff they hear from the media?

 

[Bjo187]

I'll never understand peoples want of a twilight/night GF by quoting TV viewership figures. Do you have shares in ch7 or something? What do you care how much money they make? Are you seriously afraid they'll go bankrupt if it stays a day grand final?

And then there's the fireworks crowd. Are they that important? Did your parents not take you enough as a child?

Or maybe it's the night party vibe. Even in my older age, this I kinda get. Partying is better at night. But is your nightlife that dull, only football is it's savior? Cocktails are still a thing after a day GF. You can kick on if you want.

Leave it as is and just send out some 'Are you OK day' shot glasses to the pro night GF brigade.

There are a small section of footy fans that wanna see the game grow nationally and want what is best for the games growth. Staggering I know.

I personally just prefer the twilight slot, it feels more grand to me, plus the times I've been out later on grand final night in the city it's been dead. Everybody is already home by 10pm after starting around midday on the piss.

 

[Dan26]

I'll never understand peoples want of a twilight/night GF by quoting TV viewership figures. Do you have shares in ch7 or something? What do you care how much money they make? Are you seriously afraid they'll go bankrupt if it stays a day grand final?

And then there's the fireworks crowd. Are they that important? Did your parents not take you enough as a child?

Or maybe it's the night party vibe. Even in my older age, this I kinda get. Partying is better at night. But is your nightlife that dull, only football is it's savior? Cocktails are still a thing after a day GF. You can kick on if you want.

Leave it as is and just send out some 'Are you OK day' shot glasses to the pro night GF brigade.

Going by this logic, why not play all H&A games during the day.

I think this mistaken "love" for a day Grand Final is built on nostalgia, not logic. Most people prefer their entertainment at night. Movies, parties, other sports events, special occasions, expensive dinners, birthdays.... all these things are at night because frankly people prefer their entertainment at night.

The Grand Final is a big occasion and big occasions belong at night. I honestly think people want a night Grand Final but don't know it because of the frustrating human failure to embrace change. This is evidenced by the fact that they prefer everything else at night. Entertainment, generally speaking belongs at night.

 

[stevothedevo]

Going by this logic, why not play all H&A games during the day.

Because it makes a day grand final speeeeciaaaaaaaaaaaaaal

 

[Billy ray]

Going by this logic, why not play all H&A games during the day.

I think this mistaken "love" for a day Grand Final is built on nostalgia, not logic. Most people prefer their entertainment at night. Movies, parties, other sports events, special occasions, expensive dinners, birthdays.... all these things are at night because frankly people prefer their entertainment at night.

The Grand Final is a big occasion and big occasions belong at night. I honestly think people want a night Grand Final but don't know it because of the frustrating human failure to embrace change. This is evidenced by the fact that they prefer everything else at night. Entertainment, generally speaking belongs at night.

from ages 16-40s. then it flips
i want a daytime metallica concert!

 

[Blackhawk42]

Or maybe it's the night party vibe. Even in my older age, this I kinda get. Partying is better at night. But is your nightlife that dull, only football is it's savior? Cocktails are still a thing after a day GF. You can kick on if you want.

Leave it as is and just send out some 'Are you OK day' shot glasses to the pro night GF brigade.

I still vividly remember the day when I was 26 and had the realisation that day drinking was the way to go.

What do you mean I can drink in the sun, get to bed early and wake up fine the next day?!

The best parts of end of season celebrations are the Sundays at the pub/footy ground. It gets real grimey that weekend when the sun goes down.

 

[justlookingaround]

Either 2:30pm or 5pm is good for me.
Twilight prelims have great atmosphere.

 

[peetoo]

Either 2:30pm or 5pm is good for me.
Twilight prelims have great atmosphere.

That’s a bit subjective. The ones I’ve been to I find a little..I dunno…NQR maybe as soon as the sun goes down is best so not later on purpose

 

[hawkman]

What about moving the public holiday to the Monday. The public holiday isn’t really for the Grand Final - it’s really the old “Show Day” public holiday re-named.

The Melbourne Show runs to the 6th October.

The Grand Final could be on the Sunday evening, prior to the public holiday just like the NRL Grand Final is played the day before the Labour Day holiday in NSW.

You could probably generate a national audience of 5.5-6.0 million in that situation (the Grand Final rated 4.0 million)

And when the AFL & NRL Grand Finals are on the same weekend which happens more often than not?

 

[Billy ray]

much wow
Night GF NRL.
Smoke and lights and fireworks

 

[TheEscapeClub]

That's a totally misleading narrative, used as an excuse by the pro-day Grand Final crowd. Whilst it's of course true that covid helped the audience, the facts are that night rates better than day with ALL TV programs. That's why it's called prime time. Channel 7 executives (and they would know, because it's their job) say that a twilight Grand Final would add 500,000 more and a night Grand Final would add 1 million.

Night rates better. Stop playing around with the covid excuse, as if that was the "only" reason.

Night rates better for ALL TV programs except for the AFL grand final it seems.

 

[Dan26]

Night rates better for ALL TV programs except for the AFL grand final it seems.

Huh?

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Huh?

You posted that TV rated better at night for ALL PROGRAMS and that's why it's prime time.

The COVID night grand finals aren't in the top 15 most watched AFL grand finals.