- Friday Night Football (Australia)
In
Australia , "Friday Night Football" is the broadcasting of both theNational Rugby League (NRL) andAustralian Football League (AFL) Fridaynight matches ontelevision . "Friday Night Football" is generally considered to be the biggest stage and generate the most publicity for the clubs involved in both codes. It is for this reason that clubs involved generally want to perform at their very best to avoid large-scale criticism from the media. TheSeven Network has regained broadcast rights for the AFL starting with the 2007 season, while theNine Network will continue their association with the NRL.Both codes are shown in all states and territories, with the dominant code being shown in primetime at 8:30pm, and the other code shown afterwards in a late time slot. The only exception is in the
Northern Territory where the NRL is shown at 7:00, with the AFL being shown at 8:45, both generally accepted as being in primetime.The dominant codes are
Australian rules football in Victoria,South Australia ,Western Australia andTasmania ; andrugby league inNew South Wales ,Queensland andAustralian Capital Territory . Hence the Australian rules football states get AFL and the rugby league states get NRL.As part of the new AFL television rights, Seven was expected to show AFL at an earlier timeslot in New South Wales and Queensland in an attempt to boost popularity in those states. Foxtel will take this responsibility off Seven, showing the Friday night match live into NSW and QLD on its
Main Event channel, with Seven to show it delayed at different times into different regions within those states.As part of the new NRL contract, as of 2007 the Nine Network now broadcasts two NRL games in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory on Friday Night - one live at 7.30, and the second match replayed at 9.30. The same games are also replayed into other areas of Australia, usually starting after midnight.
Between 2002 and 2006 inclusive, the
Nine Network held the rights to both codes, which necessitated the broadcasting of one after the other. "Friday Night Football" is regularly one of the highest rating programs in Australia. The Nine network prevented Foxtel showing the AFL game live on Foxtel into NSW and Queensland (shown on 2 hour delay after negotiation) and the ACT (one hour delay).National Rugby League
infobox television
show_name = Friday Night Football (NRL)
format = Sports broadcast
picture_format =576i (SDTV)
runtime = 240 minutes
starring =Peter Sterling (anchor)Ray Warren (commentator)Andrew Voss (second game commentator)Tim Gilbert (sideline)Phil Gould (anchor)Matthew Johns (sideline)Ben Ikin (second game anchor)Kevin Walters (guest)Andrew Johns (guest)Wendell Sailor (guest)Mario Fenech (guest)Mark Gasnier (guest)
country = Aus
network =Nine Network
first_aired =2007
last_aired = present
num_episodes =
website = http://nrl.com/Regular non-weekend football started life as Monday Night Football in 1985, with Canterbury meeting Manly on the 24th June. However moderate attendances and a night game prior to a working day eventually saw the game shifted to Friday from 1988 on. With the 2007 season, Monday Night Football returned to the NRL.
The Friday night game is considered to be the most watched game of the week and many NRL clubs have openly stated that they appreciate the publicity given by these matches. The Nine Network choose the game they consider to be the "match of the round" 5 or 6 weeks in advance. This system has both positive and negative consequences, as it increases the likelihood of a good game played between two in-form sides, but does not allow fans or clubs a large amount of time to know on which day they will play in any given round. Since 2007, two games have been played on Friday night.
Memorable Events
*In Round 24, 2008, for the second time in a row at
Suncorp Stadium , theBrisbane Broncos andGold Coast Titans went intogolden point , the Broncos taking out both games. Ironically, both the Broncos' wins against the Titans have been fromgolden point .
*In Round 15, 2008, theBrisbane Broncos recovered from a 12-8 half-time deficit to beat theWests Tigers , withKarmichael Hunt kicking a field goal to seal a 19-18 win with 8 minutes to go. Ironically,St George Illawarra Dragons 'Jamie Soward kicked a field goal to seal a 13-12 win. Both games avoided going intogolden point .
*In Round 12, 2008,Brisbane Broncos wingerDenan Kemp scored a try after the siren after receiving a kick fromDarren Lockyer to give the Broncos a 30-26 win overParramatta Eels after trailing 18-10 at half-time.
*In Round 3, 2008, theBrisbane Broncos set a club record 50,612 for a home match atSuncorp Stadium against theNorth Queensland Cowboys .
*In Round 17, 2007, theBrisbane Broncos were down 18-12 with three minutes to go until Corey Parker converted a Dave Taylor try to send the game into extra time. After the first set of six tackles in the first minute ofgolden point , Broncos captainDarren Lockyer kicked a 40-metre field goal to seal a 19-18 win for the Broncos. It was the Titans' first ever golden point match.
*In round 8, 2007, a match between theBrisbane Broncos and theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs finished in dramatic circumstances, Souths having to run 100 metres to score in the final minute of play. They kicked towards the eastern grandstand, andJohn Sutton won the race to the ball. But, as he was about to ground the ball, he knocked on, Brisbane fullbackKarmichael Hunt the culprit. Broncos won 8-4. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou2YzAi1v5g]
*In 2007 there were twogolden point matches played at the same time in round three. First, theParramatta Eels defeated theWests Tigers after Eels'Luke Burt potted a penalty goal in the 87th minute of play. Over in Brisbane, thePenrith Panthers forced theBrisbane Broncos into golden point after being down 28-20 with five minutes to go. Also in the 87th minute, Panthers five-eighthPeter Wallace booted a field goal to give the Panthers a 29-28 win.
*In round one, 2007, theMelbourne Storm and theBrisbane Broncos , grand finalists from 2006, played 2005 grand finalists theWests Tigers and theNorth Queensland Cowboys respectively to open the season. The runners-up won their matches.
*In the final round of 2006, Cowboys'Travis Norton ,Matt Sing andJosh Hannay all played their last games at home before moving on.
*At the final stages of theNewcastle Knights vs.Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles match in rd 23, 2006, anAndrew Johns pass went astray, landing on the sidelines. Knights players protested to the referees than a Manly player knocked on in an attempt to intercept the pass. Johns then said to a touch judge: "F*** you, c***". He was then suspended for two matches.
*ThreeMelbourne Storm home matches were played in 2006, two of which were delayed in Melbourne, starting at 5:30am the following Saturday. Melbourne Storm fans would've woken up watching their local team in action!
*With one minute to go and four points down against theBrisbane Broncos , Dragons halfbackMathew Head kicked toBrett Morris ' wing, creating a last-gasp try.Aaron Gorrell kicked the conversion and broke the hearts of Broncos supporters.
*In the final moments of the Manly vs. Wests Tigers match at Brookvale Oval, Sea Eagles halfbackMatt Orford kicked down field andBrett Stewart caught his kick. He then scored a freakish try to win the game for the silvertails.
*The round 13, 2006 match between theSt George Illawarra Dragons andParramatta Eels will be remembered as the one that saw only nine points scored. After 70 mintues, there was no score until Parramatta'sJohn Morris kicked the first field goal of the match, and therefore, the first points of the match. Then, Dragons captainBen Hornby kicked two field goals to settle a score that was similar to that of a soccer match. The following events occurred::*With time almost up, the Eels were about to feed a scrum, until....:*Parramatta'sJeremy Smith threw the ball away, landing into the hands ofMatt Cooper , who would score the only try of the match.:*Players begin to leave the field, despite the match not being over yet. The conversion had to be taken byAaron Gorrell .:*St George Illawarra won 8-1, one of the weirdest scores ever.
*In the final round of 2005, the Eels reversed their round five humiliation by the Brisbane Broncos and won the minor premiership in front of a packedParramatta Stadium .
*In 2005,Golden Boot winnerAnthony Minichiello scored a 70m try against the Broncos which contributed to theSydney Roosters winning their first match atSuncorp Stadium in 14 years.
*The Bulldogs suffered consecutive 52-point thrashings, first 56-4 by the Eels in round 23 and then 54-2 at the hands of theWests Tigers in rd 24.
*In rd 18, 2005, the Eels and Dragons fought out a controversial match at Parramatta Stadium, in a match which sawTrent Barrett get to grips withPJ Marsh [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I3OrtyjpiU] . The Eels won 40-14 and the Dragons would not lose another match until late September.
*A rare Friday night match was played atLeichhardt Oval between the Tigers and the Sea Eagles. The hosts won 49-24.
*During a 2005 match between the Roosters and the Eels, Roosters centreRyan Cross was alleged to have eye-gouged Parramatta'sGlenn Morrison in the face. He received a six-week ban for his actions.
*In 2004 and 2005, when the Roosters and the Bulldogs clashed at Telstra Stadium, a Rooster would be sent off. In 2004, then Roosters three-quarterJustin Hodges was sent off for coathangingSteve Price , and in 2005Adrian Morley would get marched for his high tackle onMatt Utai .
*In 2004,Newcastle Knights forwardClint Newton was sent off for elbowing St George Illawarra forwardAshton Sims [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U49MyfvePVo] .
*ThePenrith Panthers have lost their lastFriday the 13th matches::*round 5, 2007, v Parramatta, 14-27.:*round 10, 2005, v Dragons, 12-34.:*round 23, 2004, v Roosters, 12-44.
*A rare match was played in Melbourne in 2004, and a full house atOlympic Park Stadium witnessed theMelbourne Storm thrash thePenrith Panthers 66-14.
*A then-record crowd of 18,669 atCampbelltown Stadium witnessed theWests Tigers crash to a 56-0 thrashing at the hands of theSydney Roosters .
*Fielding an injury-hit side, the St George Illawrra Dragons got out of jail against the Brisbane Broncos in rd 26, 2003, when hookerMark Riddell kicked a penalty goal 41 metres out from the goalline. The Dragons won 26-25. Among those missing for the Dragons included:Trent Barrett ,Mark Gasnier ,Matt Cooper ,Jason Ryles ,Brett Firman andLance Thompson .Australian Football League
infobox television
show_name = Friday Night Football (AFL)
format = Sports broadcast
picture_format =576i (SDTV)
runtime = 180 minutes
starring =Bruce McAvaney (anchor)Dennis Cometti (commentator)Nathan Buckley (special comments)Tim Watson (special comments)
David Schwarz (special comments)Rick Olarenshaw (sideline)
country = Aus
network =Seven Network
Fox Sports Plus
(NSW, QLD, ACT)
first_aired =2007
last_aired = present
num_episodes =
website = http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/The first Australian rules matches on Friday nights were introduced in 1985 when the
North Melbourne Football Club pioneered the world first initiative. At this time, these games were irregularly scheduled and only involved North. By 1987 they had began to be played on a more regular basis, and to involve other clubs. TheSeven Network , who broadcast football for around 40 years before losing the rights after the 2001 season, took a punt on showing the football on Friday Nights and it paid off.Friday Night AFL is generally played in Melbourne, at either the
Melbourne Cricket Ground orTelstra Dome . On a few occasions each season however, it may be played at eitherAAMI Stadium inAdelaide orSubiaco Oval in Perth with one of the two Adelaide or Perth based sides hosting the match. In 2005, aWestern Derby between West Coast and Fremantle was played on Friday Night for the first time. Generally speaking, it is never played in Sydney or Brisbane to avoid clashes with the more popularNRL , however in 2008 theBrisbane Lions hosted a home game at the Gabba, leaving theSydney Swans without a Friday night match since 2003 (despite the fact that they have played many finals on Friday nights in 2005, 2006 and 2008). If a Friday night match featuring either Adelaide or Port Adelaide is played in Melbourne, it is shown live into Seven Adelaide from 7:00pm.Home and Away , which usually airs at this timeslot, is aired at an often later time in the day, or a double episode is aired. If a Friday night match featuring West Coast or Fremantle is played, either in Perth or Melbourne, it is delayed by one hour (thus airing at 7:30pm on Seven Perth).Seven's commentary team includes commentary from
Bruce McAvaney andDennis Cometti , with special comments fromNathan Buckley ,Tim Watson and David Schwarz. Buckley features each Friday night, while one of the other two joins him. The one who misses out provides special comments for the Sunday afternoon game.Rick Olarenshaw is the boundary/medical reporter.Memorable events
*In Round 2, 2008, the
Brisbane Lions came back from a 16-point three-quarter time deficit to edge out the Magpies by two points atThe Gabba .
*Essendon escaped with a one-point win against West Coast after they had trailed for as much as five goals at halftime. The Dons kept the Eagles to just one goal in the final quarter.
*In round 3, 2007, Collingwood's Leon Davis kicked an impossible goal from the boundary line.
*In round 18, 2006, St. Kilda backmanMatt Maguire broke his leg afterTyson Stenglein slid into his path.
*In round 10, 2005, Richmond forwardNathan G. Brown horrifically broke his leg as Melbourne'sMatthew Whelan tried to smother his kick [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX2yxGK5ZZw] .
*During the final stages of the Fremantle vs. St. Kilda match in 2005, Fremantle'sJustin Longmuir booted a goal after the siren after St. Kilda'sJustin Peckett was tackled inside the Saints' defensive 50.
*Bali Bombing survivorJason McCartney made his comeback game for the Kangaroos in round 11, 2003 against Richmond in front of a packed house atTelstra Dome . He had a hand in his side's winning goal and subsequently announced a teary retirement after the match.
*Adelaide'sMark Ricciuto played his 300th AFL match against the Kangaroos. The Crows won by a staggering 72 points, Ricciuto kicking five goals.
*Essendon'sMatthew Lloyd played his 200th AFL match against St. Kilda. Lloyd booted four goals in the Bombers' 15 point win.
*West Coast'sAshley Hansen made his AFL debut in round 11, 2004, against Collingwood. He kicked a goal but suffered an injury after halftime.Criticism
A large criticism within the AFL telecast has been the predominance of larger clubs featuring on Friday Night Football. Despite underperforming, Collingwood have previously frequently participated on Friday Night, when better-performing clubs would make the match much more worthwhile to watch. The AFL have addressed this by awarding Friday Night matches to clubs who have performed well in the previous season. Due to the clash in local markets with the NRL, the
Brisbane Lions andSydney Swans generally don't play Friday night matches. In 2008 however, theBrisbane Lions hosted Collingwood at the Gabba in a Friday night match, going head-to-head with theBrisbane Broncos hosting theNorth Queensland Cowboys in a Queensland derby atSuncorp Stadium . It was hoped that these two clubs could participate more on Friday nights with the new broadcast deal, however this is yet to be rectified.Similarly in the NRL, the
Melbourne Storm rarely played Friday Night matches until 2006, when after leading the competition, they were allocated 3 Friday Night Matches in the space of 5 weeks. Consistently high performances has seen them feature more regularly since, despite the game not bing shown on local television until approximately midnight, and an AFL game frequently being played in Melbourne also.Another major criticism surrounding AFL was the commentating of
Eddie McGuire in Collingwood matches. As Collingwood president, he was often considered to be biased in his calling, and although he frequently denied that he was, he could often be clearly heard to be barracking for the Magpies when they were playing well, or groaning when they weren't, to an extent further than he would any other club. After Eddie was appointed CEO of the Nine Network prior to the 2006 season, he was replaced by Dwayne Russell in commentary.
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