Bad Points
- Monday night football retained (there should be more day games, not night games such as this that aren’t even on during the weekend)
- No stand alone Origin games (rubbish outcome for player welfare, and for the equity of the competition with the Broncos and the Storm massively disadvantaged)
- Back to a night-time GF
- Two Friday night games, presumably so they can broadcast the Broncos back into Qld every single Friday night. I would love for the Broncos to play their home games on a Sunday for a change. Plus, one Friday night game is more than enough…who wants to stay up until 11:30pm watching two games?)
- It does not appear Nine has to broadcast its games live (i.e. but for one Friday night game)
- No Fox simulcast of Channel Nine matches (in the AFL, I can get every game live on Fox, even the Channel Seven games)
- The same protracted 26 week season, leaving no room for mid year Test series like the old days. I have no interest in Test matches after the Grand Final which is when they will have to be played for the next five years)
- Brad Fittler for the next five years
I don't really see the bold as negatives (though swap Fittler for Hadley and Rabs and I'll pay the last one).
MNF is fine. It's a pain when your team is hosting it but clubs who host MNF are compensated for the reduction in crowds. It's a huge cash spinner for the game but best of all it's awesome coming home and watching a game of footy every Monday. As long as there are safeguards against clubs hosting it too regularly (no more than 2 matches per club) I think it's absolutely fine.
The schedule of the comp is fine. Origin on a Wednesday isn't perfect, but neither is a weekend with absolutely zero footy. The extra money will more than compensate players so while their welfare is important, they're hardly losing out with this deal. I don't see a mid year international break as particularly important either. I'd prefer the regular comp tbh. The regular Aus/NZ test is still a mid year fixture.
Really don't see a night GF as a big deal either. If your team is playing you'll be there and you'll be taking the Monday off. If not you're likely watching at home which means the time slot is great.
The other 3 are definitely not good. Very much over Friday night Broncos.
AFL drove a much harder bargain
2 things, hopefully without turning this into a pissing match.
The AFL didn't have a heavily conflicted governance structure for 15 years before the signing of their deal. That kind of influence in an organization doesn't just disappear in 6 months.
The AFL had to introduce 2 new teams in non-AFL areas and an extra match weekly to get their deal. Despite the fact that might pay off for them in the long run, these teams will be a significant drain on the AFL purse for the medium term. That's a pretty significant concession.
Additionally, first and last rights have been waived by Nine for any new deals meaning the NRL will be able to drive a much harder bargain in 2018. Given the possible changes to the media landscape in that time the game will be well positioned to capitalize.
All that being said if given the choice I'd prefer the coverage the AFL got out of their deal, no question.
