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Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 10:33 pm
by Beaussie
Big wins for Sydney and Gold Coast to open the 2026 season.
Thursday night had the biggest average tv audience, and better tv ratings than any prime time home and away game from the 2025 season. Streaming numbers very pleasing for Channel 7 too.
AFL Opening Round smashed the much hyped NRL in Vegas season opener in the tv ratings too.
Opening Round is here to stay.
Rank Description Network Reach Average BVOD
1 SEVEN’S AFL: THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Seven 2,251,000 780,000 131,000
Australia’s Game
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2026 8:07 pm
by Beaussie
The Gold Coast Suns recorded a crowd of 19,859 at People First Stadium for their 2026 AFL Opening Round clash against the Geelong Cats on Friday night.
And an encouraging crowd for Greater Western Sydney this afternoon. I noticed Albo and Tom Hanks in the crowd today too.
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 8:19 am
by Beaussie
Opening Round crowds:
Sydney vs Carlton @ SCG (Sydney) 40,372
Greater Western Sydney vs Hawthorn @ Engie Stadium (Sydney) 16,157
Gold Coast vs Geelong @ People First Stadium (Gold Coast) 19,859
Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs @ Gabba (Brisbane) 31,606
St Kilda vs Collingwood @ MCG (Melbourne) 82,528
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 6:29 pm
by leeroy*NRL*
Solid crowds in northern states for the opening games.
most impressive would have to be the Swans 40k pretty good
St Kilda biggest i think i heard>> even know we know its because of Collingwood.
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 6:30 pm
by leeroy*NRL*
Question is >>> does the AFL still do Opening Round in 2027
especially with now 5 games on
and which also looks to be an annual Origin Match
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 7:39 pm
by makingnrlfansgowacko
GWS almost and GC out drawing the Storm
Good start by those expansion teams vs last years NRL grand final runner up
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 8:09 pm
by leeroy*NRL*
makingnrlfansgowacko wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 7:39 pm
GWS almost and GC out drawing the Storm
Good start by those expansion teams vs last years NRL grand final runner up
the difference is, Suns were outdrawn by the CATS fans
and Hawks were not to far behind
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 5:15 am
by makingnrlfansgowacko
leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 8:09 pm
makingnrlfansgowacko wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 7:39 pm
GWS almost and GC out drawing the Storm
Good start by those expansion teams vs last years NRL grand final runner up
the difference is, Suns were outdrawn by the CATS fans
and Hawks were not to far behind
The numbers don’t show that conspiracy and I couldn’t really care the suns out drew the storm
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:21 am
by Beaussie
leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 6:30 pm
Question is >>> does the AFL still do Opening Round in 2027
especially with now 5 games on
and which also looks to be an annual Origin Match
100% the AFL continues with Opening Round considering the record tv ratings.
It is however disappointing that the idea was to focus on the northern states, yet due to the broadcast agreement, Saturday afternoon’s game - Giants vs Hawks was shown on 4 hour delay into Sydney, and the Lions vs Bulldogs was delayed coverage into Brisbane on Channel 7 on Saturday night, as the games were exclusive to Fox Footy/Kayo. Meanwhile Saints vs Pies was shown Sunday night on 7mate and 7plus live in NSW and QLD.
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 11:36 am
by Beaussie
Now getting ridiculous. First they get Gather Round that was originally intended for Sydney, now they want in on Opening Round too.
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 11:43 pm
by Fred
leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 8:09 pm
makingnrlfansgowacko wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 7:39 pm
GWS almost and GC out drawing the Storm
Good start by those expansion teams vs last years NRL grand final runner up
the difference is, Suns were outdrawn by the CATS fans
and Hawks were not to far behind
I wasn’t there - as overseas/ but is this true / I mean factually ?
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2026 3:41 pm
by leeroy*NRL*
Fred wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 11:43 pm
leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 8:09 pm
makingnrlfansgowacko wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 7:39 pm
GWS almost and GC out drawing the Storm
Good start by those expansion teams vs last years NRL grand final runner up
the difference is, Suns were outdrawn by the CATS fans
and Hawks were not to far behind
I wasn’t there - as overseas/ but is this true / I mean factually ?
Suns really only get outdrawn by
Collingwood
Geelong
and Maybe Richmond & Essendon
rest is fair game with majority SUNS
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2026 3:45 pm
by leeroy*NRL*
Beaussie wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:21 am
leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2026 6:30 pm
Question is >>> does the AFL still do Opening Round in 2027
especially with now 5 games on
and which also looks to be an annual Origin Match
100% the AFL continues with Opening Round considering the record tv ratings.
It is however disappointing that the idea was to focus on the northern states, yet due to the broadcast agreement, Saturday afternoon’s game - Giants vs Hawks was shown on 4 hour delay into Sydney, and the Lions vs Bulldogs was delayed coverage into Brisbane on Channel 7 on Saturday night, as the games were exclusive to Fox Footy/Kayo. Meanwhile Saints vs Pies was shown Sunday night on 7mate and 7plus live in NSW and QLD.
i do not think Opening Round generates better ratings >>
it is because it was 1st game of the season..
A competitive Big Victorian Clash would generate big numbers on opening night
for what they are using opening round for >> it has to be broadcast LIVE on FTA opening weekend.
Like you stated GWS and Lions on a delay is a joke. (no one watches)
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2026 6:44 pm
by Terry
It seems like the 'opening round' has had a profound effect on the 'northern market' today sports fans. Check out the crowd for the western sydney fumblers in good 'ol Homebush today. Its gotta be in the ...............ummmm...............yeah..........hundreds lolololololol!!!!
Hahahahaha. Its f_____g pathetic. Looks like nothing can bring the good burghers of western Sydney to stomach the fumbling mess of the Ginats. Surely they've gotta shut the catastrophe down or move it to Canberra. Its a dead set joke.
Thoughts sports fans?
Re: Opening Round - 2026
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2026 7:18 pm
by makingnrlfansgowacko
Terry wrote: Sat Mar 21, 2026 6:44 pm
It seems like the 'opening round' has had a profound effect on the 'northern market' today sports fans. Check out the crowd for the western sydney fumblers in good 'ol Homebush today. Its gotta be in the ...............ummmm...............yeah..........hundreds lolololololol!!!!
Hahahahaha. Its f_____g pathetic. Looks like nothing can bring the good burghers of western Sydney to stomach the fumbling mess of the Ginats. Surely they've gotta shut the catastrophe down or move it to Canberra. Its a dead set joke.
Thoughts sports fans?
NRL teams in Sydney regularly get similar sized crowds, so really nothing to really joke about GWS
there was lightning around the ground that caused some delays
