AFL fans the biggest losers

Rod Nicholson From: Sunday Herald Sun April 24, 2011 12:00AM 

THE most vital ingredient in sport - the fans - seem to be the last consideration when administrators negotiate the path ahead. 

The AFL has evolved into a national competition of enormous wealth and credibility. Soon 

 it will announce the new media rights, expected to pump $1 billion into the coffers that 

 must cater for the players, administration, development and a host of other vital 

 components.

 For that $1 billion, who can blame television outlets for insisting games are played in 

 premium timeslots so they can command high ratings, and, therefore, high prices for advertising?

It is part of the evolution, they doubtless would argue. Give the public the appropriate timeslot to watch the footy, especially at night when work or house duties are done and people can relax in front of the box.

The AFL can hardly complain, as it has been compliant in this shift - take the money for the box or work with less.

This is all well and good, but what about the fans? In a 2009 survey, commissioned by the AFL, 49.4 per cent of fans voted Saturday afternoon as their preferred match-watching time.

So what influence do the wishes of the fans have?

In Melbourne this season only 21 games are assured on a Saturday afternoon, with perhaps one or two more in the final round.

That's less than one Saturday afternoon game a round in Melbourne, the home of footy.

The MCG played host to a cracking draw between Essendon and Carlton last weekend - the only Saturday afternoon game there until Round 14.

This should be food for thought for officials. Half of the fans in their own survey say they prefer Saturday afternoon games, yet we have 21, or perhaps 23, for the season and only seven at the MCG.

Another beef from the public is that televised night games are not shown live.

It would be wise for both the AFL and the TV networks to give some ground to the people, without whom the clubs and the competition itself, and therefore the interest of networks, would wilt.

This means live telecasts and Saturday arvo footy.