The Serve

The cons of a twilight GF far outweigh the pros

A night time grand final. To say it’s an annual discussion would be an understatement. Like saying Wayne Bennett annually annoys a journalist. Or Candice Falzon annually squires an athlete. A night time grand final will always be on the agenda, because the television networks will always want it.

The rationale for Ten is simple. A later start, be it 5pm, or 6pm or 8pm, means more people will watch the game at home. Doesn’t necessarily equate to a greater number of viewers, but less will be at the pub or at the mates place for a barbie, so more folks would be sitting in front of their televisions. There ain’t no OZTAM boxes at the local.

A later start would also allow Ten to its already laborious pre game coverage. As it is, we go from the grand final breakfast, to the MCG for a panel discussion, then to another desk, filled with network personalities and shameless plugs, back to different panel discussion, over to the carpark for the inevitable nutjob fan in facepaint – even though he’s 46 – then back to the panel, and so forth. It doesn’t matter to Ten if it has to shoehorn even more Big Brother rejects and Moira into the fill, because the majority of TV’s on the last Saturday in September will be on Ten for the day anyway.

But what would be in it for the game?

Night football is nowhere as crisp as daytime. Twilight footy has barely been accepted in the home and away rounds, let alone a major event.

The day itself is all about routine. Different routines for different people, but a routine nonetheless. There’s the club breakfast, be it at North Melbourne or North Ballarat, then the barbeque, at the club or at home. After the game, both clubs have their fan night. Imagine a 5:10 start. That means the game doesn’t end until just before 8. Then presentations, time with the media, followed by some private time in the rooms with family and friends. The fans wouldn’t see their heroes until 10.30 at least.

Hardly child friendly.

So much to lose. History. Culture. Fans already feel the AFL is disenfranchised from the rank and file. Its giddyness at having half the games taken away from free to air channel a prime example.

There really is only one legitimate reason the commission would bow to television.

Ego.

The ego to want to blow all of the other sports, particularly rugby league, out of the water. Since the NRL moved its decider to Sunday nights, and since they’ve gone live into the southern states, League has bridged the grand final TV gap enormously. If the Swans didn’t play in last years big one, AFL would have had an inferior audience.

Ten has played this smart. They’ve turned up the heat during State Of Origin, the most profitable production in television sport, played in glorious floodlight. Origin is the one event that sticks in the craw of Australian Rules.

Ten has gone for the ego, the one personality trait where they know they have a chance.