AFL GF - Most Important Sporting Event in Australia

[Beaussie]

Grand Final's our top event
Sam Edmund
August 17, 2006 12:00am
http://origin.www.news.com.au/heraldsun ... 62,00.html

THE AFL Grand Final is Australia's most important sporting event.

And Ian Thorpe stands as the hottest sponsorship property.
The trends are revealed in the Sweeney Sports Report, Australia's definitive sports industry study.

Footy's last Saturday in September was endorsed by sports fans as the nation's ultimate showpiece, topping the Melbourne Cup, Australian Open and Albert Park Grand Prix.

The Grand Final was backed by a quarter of sports followers as the nation's biggest event, giving it a seven-point lead over the race that stops a nation.

The Cup, which eclipsed the AFL Grand Final as the country's biggest sporting spectacle in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, received 18 per cent of the vote.

The Australian Open, widely regarded as the world's best Grand Slam tennis tournament, was supported by 12 per cent to place third.

Five per cent of fans went for the NRL's State-of-Origin series and Grand Final, while the Formula One Grand Prix, Bledisloe Cup and Bathurst motor race attracted 3 per cent of the vote.

Thorpe, Australia's best swimmer, is also its biggest money magnet.

Despite recent queries over the superstar's weight and motivation after his move to Hollywood, Thorpe is still regarded as the No.1 athlete to endorse brands and organisations.

The star swimmer has the highest rating of sports appropriateness (81), calculated by measuring the public's awareness of the sportsperson and whether they are thought worthy of sponsorship.

Cricketers Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Steve Waugh dominate the top 10.

Victorian basketball sensation Andrew Bogut jumped 14 points to 34 and 44th position after his debut NBA season.

Socceroos World Cup captain Mark Viduka has 42 points, trailing teammate Harry Kewell with 48.

The pair's rating is expected to increase after the next survey, which includes the Cup period.

Many swimmers' ratings declined during the 12-month period, a reaction to high post-2004 Olympic ratings.

Freestyle queen Jodie Henry suffered the biggest loss -- 18 points -- while Michael Klim lost 14 and Grant Hackett six to drop from second to third place.

Retirees Steve Waugh, Pat Rafter, Greg Norman and Cathy Freeman all lost ground but maintained their spots in the top 20.

Just confirms what we already knew I suppose. Very disappointing for the NRL GF and NRL officials and fans alike one would imagine. The Australian Open Tennis and Melbourne Cup faired better in the popularity stakes. :_<>

I guess we can all now agree that it is footy - Australian Rules/AFL style that stops the nation. :D

[The Portonian]

One has to love topics like these, you know the kind, x amount of people love y more than z

Interesting to note how Sweeney's conduct this particular report of statistical nonsense, 1500 interviewees across the spectrum of divides such as sporting bodies, event organisers, advertisers, sponsors, equipment and clothing manufacturers and the media. Wow, it's almost as concise and truthfully reflecting as erm...lets say daily television ratings reports! 1500 people in a nation as large as ours, wow, they do their homework that's for sure, I hope someone is paying them well for their trouble and expertise.

Me, personally, in the end, I just love sport, that's it, doesn't matter if it's AFL, NRL, Football or anything else, as long as it's a real sport I'll watch it. I couldn't care less about how sponsorship worthy or sports appropriate they are, I mean really, what a complete arse licking subset of interest. The GF is great, the NRL GF is great, hells, Socceroos playing to packed stadiums is great, no flippant and half arsed report conducted with 1500 lab rats is gonna make me think any differently. And how come I never get asked to complete these surveys damnit?! I work in two of the damned industries they mention on their site for this sports report...bias I tell ye, bias!!

TP

[Grim Reaper]

And Lawn Bowls is tops as well!