One Day in...October?

[MRryan]

The AFL are looking at the possibility of moving the Grand Final to the first week of October as the MCG, SCG and Gabba will be unavaliable for a season starting 1 week early in 2011 thanks to the GCFC inclusion...

Herald Sun

In a big break from tradition, the AFL is considering shifting next year's Grand Final from the last Saturday in September to the first weekend in October.The move, certain to upset traditionalists, is one option being considered to accommodate the arrival of the AFL's 17th team, Gold Coast.
The option to start the season a week earlier in March is complicated by the unavailability of the MCG, SCG and Gabba because of the cricket season.......
It is expected the AFL season will be extended to 24 weeks from next year - 22 matches and two byes for each side.
The season, which currently comprises 176 games, will extend to 187 games.

Is moving the AFL Grand Final into October a necessary cost of expansion into NSW and SE Qld or should the AFL find another way out in the name of tradition...?

 

[FuManchu]

We do quite well in October

 

[Mr Eagle]

Thereby moving it to the same weekend as the NRL Grand Final and knackering whatever press coverage it might get in those new markets? Oh great.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

I saw the thread titltle and though it was somone taking the piss out of the 1990 premiership that Collingwood won in October

 

[tonk]

There was a thread discussing this not long ago. Most people don't have a problem moving the date, it's happened before.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

How does this affect the start of local cricket seasons, which is always the first Saturday in October?

 

[JimDocker]

The most important thing with the expansion is that the draw which can be unequal as it is, does not get more unequal.

The grand final being a week late should not be a problem.

It is interesting though that whenever discussion previously has brought up extending the season to even out the draw, it has always been declared that the season is long enough.

 

[western royboy]

How does this affect the start of local cricket seasons, which is always the first Saturday in October?

In short it will stuff them up. Footy ends the last week in September, Cricket starts the first week in October and ends in the last week of March.

Except in Sydney, where we always started on the last Saturday in September an finished the first week in April.

Would have a mjor impact on most Vic Country Cricket Associations.

But heh, Vlad will not care.

 

[LukeyDAn]

Just wouldn't feel the same. They can remove the mid-season break next year. I hope it doesn't change, personally.

 

[McCrann]

The AFL are looking at the possibility of moving the Grand Final to the first week of October as the MCG, SCG and Gabba will be unavaliable for a season starting 1 week early in 2011 thanks to the GCFC inclusion...

Herald Sun


Is moving the AFL Grand Final into October a necessary cost of expansion into NSW and SE Qld or should the AFL find another way out in the name of tradition...?

I'm all for the possiblity of an October Grand Final - in fact, why not make it the 2nd Saturday in October?

That prevents any clash with the NRL Grand Final and is a perfect lead in to the Caulfield Cup - Always held on the 3rd Saturday of October.

 

[Pessimistic]

Thereby moving it to the same weekend as the NRL Grand Final and knackering whatever press coverage it might get in those new markets? Oh great.

Just to expand, the need is caused by the AFL placing 2 teams in the NSW/Qld markets.
Having a clash between AFL and NRL GF (although one is a night event) is a big minus in those markets - which is what the expansion is trying to achieve, and unneccesary annoyance to the NRL types.

Growing the game in NSW and QLD will be seriously hampered by clashing with the NRL grand final

The alternative is to not have a big launch of the season at the MCG, or not have 2 extra rounds, or not have mid term breaks

 

[TOOs_Finest]

In short it will stuff them up. Footy ends the last week in September, Cricket starts the first week in October and ends in the last week of March.

Except in Sydney, where we always started on the last Saturday in September an finished the first week in April.

Would have a mjor impact on most Vic Country Cricket Associations.

But heh, Vlad will not care.

My thoughts exactly. A Sunday twilight GF on the cards perhaps? Isn't that when the NRL GF is played these days?

 

[krusden]

How does this affect the start of local cricket seasons, which is always the first Saturday in October?

do you really think the afl will care about your poxy local cricket season start?

methinks not.

This is a total non issue and if people couldn't see it coming then they're short-sighted.

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Thereby moving it to the same weekend as the NRL Grand Final and knackering whatever press coverage it might get in those new markets? Oh great.

Even though I love the idea of killing off Rugby by playing the Grand Final a week later, maybe the AFL should start the season a week earlier, to keep tradition alive. Have they ever thought of that idea? Probably not.

 

[Pessimistic]

Even though I love the idea of killing off Rugby by playing the Grand Final a week later, maybe the AFL should start the season a week earlier, to keep tradition alive. Have they ever thought of that idea? Probably not.

Until the AFL get some traction in NSW and QLD, its more likely to kill the afl in those markets.

Remember Iron Chef is a problem some weeks

 

[Lexus Rose Oval]

YES! the flag is ours in 2011

 

[TOOs_Finest]

do you really think the afl will care about your poxy local cricket season start?

methinks not.

This is a total non issue and if people couldn't see it coming then they're short-sighted.

Including the premier grade of cricket in Victoria
Which already runs into the first round of AFL matches at the other end of the season.

If the cricket competitions decide not to re-schedule, then yes the AFL will have no choice but to care. Thus my suggestion that it may well become a Sunday AFL GF.

 

[chelseacarlton]

...Brady set to record the new theme song...
...oneday in October...
...soon to be November...
...used to be September...
...i cant bloody remember...
...ah well whatever....

any other idea's

 

[TOOs_Finest]

...Brady set to record the new theme song...
...oneday in October...
...soon to be November...
...used to be September...
...i cant bloody remember...
...ah well whatever....

any other idea's

Meh, they'll just scrub the song anyway, like they did with 'Up there Cazaly'. Farce

 

[krusden]

Including the premier grade of cricket in Victoria
Which already runs into the first round of AFL matches at the other end of the season.

If the cricket competitions decide not to re-schedule, then yes the AFL will have no choice but to care. Thus my suggestion that it may well become a Sunday AFL GF.

if the afl doesn't care about the soccer world cup do you REALLY think they will give a rats about the cricket?

if it comes down to it the cricket will move before the afl does unless the afl wants a sunday gf.

im not saying that's right, but i am saying that the afl won't be affected by the cricket one iota

 

[Dean3]

if it comes down to it the cricket will move before the afl does unless the afl wants a sunday gf.

This is the real agenda. A Sunday night or Sunday prime time GF. It is difficult to justify at the moment, but most would be happy if it were a week later, and on the Sunday evening.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

if the afl doesn't care about the soccer world cup do you REALLY think they will give a rats about the cricket?

if it comes down to it the cricket will move before the afl does unless the afl wants a sunday gf.

im not saying that's right, but i am saying that the afl won't be affected by the cricket one iota

So, if there was a World Cup final match being held locally or overseas on the same day and at the same time as the AFL GF, obviously with Australia playing and being shown on a rival TV station, you don't think the AFL would care? You just might want to check that with the AFL's major sponsors.

 

[Pessimistic]

Whatever else NRL has going on , the NRL grand final is a massive event in NSW and QLD. in sydney and on TV.

Is madness to go up against it, especially when the reason to move the AFL GF is to expand into NSW and QLD

 

[shoe]

Just wouldn't feel the same. They can remove the mid-season break next year. I hope it doesn't change, personally.

After a year or two you'd get used to it and it would feel the same.

Who cares what month its in? If we get more footy in a year it's great.
The only 'tradition' here is that September comes after August.

'Scheduling tradition' really isn't something we should get precious about...

 

[mattys123]

Whatever else NRL has going on , the NRL grand final is a massive event in NSW and QLD. in sydney and on TV.

Is madness to go up against it, especially when the reason to move the AFL GF is to expand into NSW and QLD

Yeah, madness to go up against it.

Oh wait, isn't the NRL GF on a Sunday night.

Seriously, I couldn't care less, in fact I like Cameron Schwab's idea of a week off before the finals and a week between the prelim and GF to build the big game up.

The start of the finals would be so much better if there was a break between round 22 and the first week of the finals.

And it works well for the SuperBowl, maybe play an all star or state of origin game the weekend before the GF, have the Brownlow on the Monday after that, and then the "usual" festivities.