Roast Has Opening Round been totally botched?

[GC2015]

It looks like all four games are going to sell out (or very close to it) in the three northern markets that the AFL is desperate to expand into and the NRL doesn't get the headstart that they have had in years goneby. The first AFL game in Sydney this year will be played on Thursday night - the first NRL game in Sydney this year will be played on Saturday night. The first AFL game in Brisbane this year will be played on Friday night - the first NRL games in Brisbane this year will be played on Sunday arvo. The first AFL game on the Gold Coast this year will be played on Saturday arvo - the first NRL game on the Gold Coast this year will be played on Saturday night. Level pegging (arguably better time slots for the AFL) at the beginning of the season in all three markets for the first time ever.

How can this be viewed objectively as anything other than a success for the AFL? Just because there are no games in Victoria this weekend doesn't mean it's a flop of a concept.

 

[Catastrophe!]

It looks like all four games are going to sell out (or very close to it) in the three northern markets that the AFL is desperate to expand into and the NRL doesn't get the headstart that they have had in years goneby. The first AFL game in Sydney this year will be played on Thursday night - the first NRL game in Sydney this year will be played on Saturday night. The first AFL game in Brisbane this year will be played on Friday night - the first NRL games in Brisbane this year will be played on Sunday arvo. The first AFL game on the Gold Coast this year will be played on Saturday arvo - the first NRL game on the Gold Coast this year will be played on Saturday night. Level pegging (arguably better time slots for the AFL) at the beginning of the season in all three markets for the first time ever.

How can this be viewed objectively as anything other than a success for the AFL? Just because there are no games in Victoria this weekend doesn't mean it's a flop of a concept.

Just play the other 5 games up there too...no-one would have a problem then.

What you people don't seem to get, is, this isn't just a 'VFL bias' issue. This affects WA and SA sides, and only privileges Northern sides. Now we know this is all monetary, but 4 other interstate sides are losing out too...so it affects more than just the Victorian sides. It affects more than half the comp.

 

[STPer18]

How can this be viewed objectively as anything other than a success for the AFL? Just because there are no games in Victoria this weekend doesn't mean it's a flop of a concept.

Because there are ten teams ready to go twiddling their thumbs while the season starts so the AFL can play dick measurements with the NRL.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Freo play Brisbane so my point stands.

How hard is it to roster those 8 who play first to play another side of those 8 in round 1?

Probably pretty hard considering all other fixture factors that have to be accounted for.

Couldn't even be done back in the simpler times of 1991 and 1992 when the seasons started with a 4-match round (and, btw, the teams that started a week early lost far more often than not in the following round against teams coming off the opening round bye).

 

[Mr Meow]

Screw Victoria. You have the grand final in perpetuity, so learn to share other times of year.

I don't mind the idea of it being interstate, like Gather Round.

It's the broken nature of the opening round that I don't like. Gives it an odd start.

 

[HugeJohnson]

Honestly don't even care about opening round, won't be watching any game. Season starts next week.

 

[PP34]

Yes.

Just another horrible concept that will end up in the AFL scrap heap like AFLX eventually.

Not surprised to see the usual Vicbias nonsense.

It has nothing to do with that.

You call something round zero, have only a handful of teams involved and on top of that all the games are pretty meh.

I’ve never seen such a low level of hype for the footy coming back. Most people are already looking ahead to round 1. Don’t believe me? The footy shows which normally run weeks before round 1 and build some hype didn’t even return until this week.

Nobody seems to give much of a stuff.

AFL is cringey caring what the NRL does because the NRL is so little in comparison that what they do really doesn’t matter.

Then you’ve got the ridiculous byes over the course of however many weeks to start the season. Boy what a way to build momentum and hype for each teams season.

Wish I got paid to make such shit ideas.

 

[GC2015]

Just play the other 5 games up there too...no-one would have a problem then.

Yes they would, and you know they would. Look at Gather Round last year. Instead of just being happy about an extra round of footy, Vics heavily critcised it (despite all games selling out) and some even tried to suggest it should be moved from SA to Victoria.

What you people don't seem to get, is, this isn't just a 'VFL bias' issue. This affects WA and SA sides, and only privileges Northern sides. Now we know this is all monetary, but 4 other interstate sides are losing out too...so it affects more than just the Victorian sides. It affects more than half the comp.

You view it as priviliege, the AFL views it as a conscious effort to maximise exposure in the northern markets. If it was purely about money then we'd see the big teams like Collingwood and Carlton hosting home games at the MCG in opening round. This is about more than money.

Despite the criticism, we all know the majority of footy fans will be tuning in this weekend and the games will rate well. Add in the sell out crowds and this is objectively a very good outcome for the AFL, despite any kind of caveat you or any other southerner wants to attach to it.

Because there are ten teams ready to go twiddling their thumbs while the season starts so the AFL can play dick measurements with the NRL.

It never ceases to amaze me to see how insular Victorians are when it comes to footy. You guys just can't see the bigger picture of trying to grow the game in the two states where 52% of the national popuation resides.

 

[STPer18]

It never ceases to amaze me to see how insular Victorians are when it comes to footy. You guys just can't see the bigger picture of trying to grow the game in the two states where 52% of the national popuation resides.

How is having ten teams and five potential games not being played integral to growing the game? I'm sure it sounds great to say this boneheaded initiative will 'grow the game', but what does postponing the rest of the comp achieve apart from killing the build up of the season launch?

 

[GC2015]

How is having ten teams and five potential games not being played integral to growing the game? I'm sure it sounds great to say this boneheaded initiative will 'grow the game', but what does postponing the rest of the comp achieve apart from killing the build up of the season launch?

This idea is supposed to shine the spotlight on footy in Queensland and New South Wales at a crucial time of the year when the public are deciding which sport they want to invest their time and money into. It was never intended to be a Gather Round 2.0 where all 18 clubs are in Queensland/New South Wales for their first game of the season. Some clubs have little to no support in the northern states and it would be embarrassing to see how little people would show up to those games. As an example the Saints v Bulldogs elimination final at the Gabba in 2020 pulled just 10k people. You don't want half the games of the opening round being played in stadiums that aren't even half full.

For it to work in QLD/NSW, it has to be either the local club/s or the big Victorian clubs to have a shot at succeeding. The AFL decided to go with both of those options and you see the results with these sell out crowds we've got coming up. To answer your question of what it achieves, it gives the AFL a local presence and keeps them front of mind from the very start of the NRL season, which ensures league doesn't get a leg up to build interest/momentum like they've had for so many years in the past. Think about it this way, last year we saw the Broncos start their season by winning their first four matches and three of those games were played in Brisbane. The Lions didn't get to play their first game in Brisbane unti the Broncos were already 4-0 and by that point the Broncos had already stirred up so much excitement and support that it made it really difficult to gain momentum locally.

Do you see how this scenario can be a problem for the northern market teams?

 

[Mat Mann]

Yes they would, and you know they would. Look at Gather Round last year. Instead of just being happy about an extra round of footy, Vics heavily critcised it (despite all games selling out) and some even tried to suggest it should be moved from SA to Victoria.


You view it as priviliege, the AFL views it as a conscious effort to maximise exposure in the northern markets. If it was purely about money then we'd see the big teams like Collingwood and Carlton hosting home games at the MCG in opening round. This is about more than money.

Despite the criticism, we all know the majority of footy fans will be tuning in this weekend and the games will rate well. Add in the sell out crowds and this is objectively a very good outcome for the AFL, despite any kind of caveat you or any other southerner wants to attach to it.


It never ceases to amaze me to see how insular Victorians are when it comes to footy. You guys just can't see the bigger picture of trying to grow the game in the two states where 52% of the national popuation resides.

Instead, we have Carlton Collingwood Pies and Tigers being hosted interstate. So let's promote footy in NSW and QLD by using the big 4 Vic clubs as its basis, how's that not about the money?

It's not as if we don't want to watch those Vic teams play, It's just no one has any interest outside of those states to watch the northern teams. the biggest crowd will be 40k.

GWS v Pies at the showground will be 18k. that's only if 12k Pies supporters drive up

 

[The Feeder Club]

It's completely ****ed for supporters of the ten teams not playing. Strange to shoot yourself in the foot like this when you already run one of the most compromised competitions in world sport. Or perhaps that's why they don't care, why not just pisd in the ear of those stupid supporters yet again when they keep on turning up for games no matter what.

 

[Mat Mann]

This idea is supposed to shine the spotlight on footy in Queensland and New South Wales at a crucial time of the year when the public are deciding which sports league they want to invest their time and money into. It was never intended to be a Gather Round 2.0 where all 18 clubs are in Queensland/New South Wales for their first game of the season. Some clubs have little to no support in the northern states and it would be embarrassing to see how little people would show up to those games. As an example the Saints v Bulldogs elimination final at the Gabba in 2020 pulled just 10k people. You don't want half the games of the opening round being played in stadiums that aren't even half full.

For it to work in QLD/NSW, it has to be either the local club/s or the big Victorian clubs to have a shot at succeeding. The AFL decided to go with both of those options and you see the results with these sell out crowds we've got coming up. To answer your question of what it achieves, it gives the AFL a local presence and keeps them front of mind from the very start of the NRL season, which ensures league doesn't get a leg up to build interest/momentum like they've had for so many years in the past. Until you've lived here or in Sydney for a decent portion of time, you'll never truly understand the sporting landscape in the northern markets.

I wonder why, look at the rest of the games
port v gee 24k in SA
bris v tigers 22k
WC v pies in WA 32k
Rich v STK @ Metricon 13k
Gee v pies - 21k

the 2 prelims and GF didn't exceed 30k

 

[Bunk Moreland]

‘Sold a lemon’: Greats ask if AFL ‘messed up the calendar’ amid first round fixture gamble

‘Sold a lemon’: Greats ask if AFL ‘messed up the calendar’ amid first round fixture gamble

www.foxsports.com.au

I tell ya… I’m more and more convinced.

They have genuinely just cocked up the dates.

An organisation the size of the AFL simply booked the wrong day. It’s pretty funny.

 

[hoss]

Just a shocking decision. No exciting buildup to the season. Just four shit games of football for the rugby states. I'll get invested once we're at Round 1.

On Pixel 7 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[GC2015]

Instead, we have Carlton Collingwood Pies and Tigers being hosted interstate. So let's promote footy in NSW and QLD by using the big 4 Vic clubs as its basis, how's that not about the money?

If it was purely about money then you would schedule the biggest fixtures possible at the MCG to open the season in front of 90k+ multiple times throughout the opening round. It's not about money - it's about leveraging footy interest levels within the local market. Carlton and Richmond have good support in South East Queensland and the Pies have good support in Sydney/have fans that are willing to travel. The Swans are already reasonably popular in Sydney and they've decided to use the Brodie Grundy story to market the game against the Dees. This is why we're going to see sell out crowds because they've managed to leverage local interest levels at a crucial time of the year. If the northern teams play well in opening round, then they can build momentum without having to worry about the NRL having a headstart this time. See the headstart the Broncos had on the Lions last year as an example of this.

I wonder why, look at the rest of the games
port v gee 24k in SA
bris v tigers 22k
WC v pies in WA 32k
Rich v STK @ Metricon 13k
Gee v pies - 21k

the 2 prelims and GF didn't exceed 30k

All the other Gabba finals matches from that year (besides the GF) involved the Lions or Magpies and pulled the maximum COVID allowance of over 20k and then the GF pulled the new maximum allowance of 30k with the locally popular Tigers involved. The local popularity of the Saints and/or Bulldogs pales in comparison to that of the Lions, Magpies or Tigers within the Brisbane market.

 

[Angus Young]

all 4 games sellouts.

Can get tickets to all of them still.

 

[Teen Wolf]

what does postponing the rest of the comp achieve

The AFL has taken 4 games out of crap overlapping timeslots and created an extra week of high-rating Thursday/Friday matches and attendance-friendly standalone Saturday twilight/night games.

That aside, they obviously can't move the whole season a week forward because of a) ground availabilities and b) it would mean taking the Grand Final out of its traditional slot which would be far too distressing for you delicate flowers who can't handle change.

 

[Teen Wolf]

‘Sold a lemon’: Greats ask if AFL ‘messed up the calendar’ amid first round fixture gamble

‘Sold a lemon’: Greats ask if AFL ‘messed up the calendar’ amid first round fixture gamble

www.foxsports.com.au

I tell ya… I’m more and more convinced.

They have genuinely just cocked up the dates.

An organisation the size of the AFL simply booked the wrong day. It’s pretty funny.

"We were told there would be no NRL on".

Um, no. You were told this:

Swans, Dees to start season as AFL reveals Opening Round

The AFL has revealed the fixture for the new-look Opening Round that will begin the 2024 season in NSW and Queensland

www.afl.com.au

The National Rugby League, which will start its 2024 season in Las Vegas, has scheduled just one game in Sydney (on Saturday evening) and two in Queensland (Saturday night and Sunday afternoon) for that weekend of March 7-10, giving the AFL some clear air for its 'Opening Round' games.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

‘Sold a lemon’: Greats ask if AFL ‘messed up the calendar’ amid first round fixture gamble

‘Sold a lemon’: Greats ask if AFL ‘messed up the calendar’ amid first round fixture gamble

www.foxsports.com.au

I tell ya… I’m more and more convinced.

They have genuinely just cocked up the dates.

An organisation the size of the AFL simply booked the wrong day. It’s pretty funny.

"Opening Round Has a New Postcode"

AFLX levels of cringe

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[Teen Wolf]

"Opening Round Has a New Postcode"

AFLX levels of cringeView attachment 1921279

On SM-A225F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Opening Round never been held before? Well if a News Corp reporter says it, then it must be true.

Oh wait, turns out the AFL has explicitly used that branding since 2011:

 

[Waterhouzin]

It looks like all four games are going to sell out (or very close to it) in the three northern markets that the AFL is desperate to expand into and the NRL doesn't get the headstart that they have had in years goneby. The first AFL game in Sydney this year will be played on Thursday night - the first NRL game in Sydney this year will be played on Saturday night. The first AFL game in Brisbane this year will be played on Friday night - the first NRL games in Brisbane this year will be played on Sunday arvo. The first AFL game on the Gold Coast this year will be played on Saturday arvo - the first NRL game on the Gold Coast this year will be played on Saturday night. Level pegging (arguably better time slots for the AFL) at the beginning of the season in all three markets for the first time ever.

How can this be viewed objectively as anything other than a success for the AFL? Just because there are no games in Victoria this weekend doesn't mean it's a flop of a concept.

Yes but could easily have had all the benefits and none of the stupidly avoidable drawbacks by just playing these same 4 northern games as standalone Thursday/friday /Sat arvo /Sat eve games then compress the remaining fixture into the Sunday and long weekend Monday on the same weekend.
Far too simple and logical for the geniuses at AFL house.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[iBeng]

Imo, and this will be controversial, I say we ditch Round 1 completely and just start with round 2.

 

[Catastrophe!]

Yes they would, and you know they would. Look at Gather Round last year. Instead of just being happy about an extra round of footy, Vics heavily critcised it (despite all games selling out) and some even tried to suggest it should be moved from SA to Victoria.


You view it as priviliege, the AFL views it as a conscious effort to maximise exposure in the northern markets. If it was purely about money then we'd see the big teams like Collingwood and Carlton hosting home games at the MCG in opening round. This is about more than money.

Despite the criticism, we all know the majority of footy fans will be tuning in this weekend and the games will rate well. Add in the sell out crowds and this is objectively a very good outcome for the AFL, despite any kind of caveat you or any other southerner wants to attach to it.


It never ceases to amaze me to see how insular Victorians are when it comes to footy. You guys just can't see the bigger picture of trying to grow the game in the two states where 52% of the national popuation resides.

This is hilarious how you keep treating is as a Victorian issue, yet you completely disregard how WA and SA teams are not participating either, and are disadvantaged.

You don't really seem to be listening to anything other than your own insular argument.

 

[terrybull]

Could have been instead Round 1 - No Victorian games

2 in NSW
2 in QLD
2 in WA
2 in SA
1 in TAS (North vs Hawthorn)