AFL FANS ASSOCIATION (AFLFA): “GIVING FOOTY FANS A VOICE”
A recent poll run by the AFL Fans Association on social media showed 83% of the 2500 fans polled supported the full fixture being released.
Feedback provided by fans revealed that the uncertainty they have experienced in recent years with a part year floating fixture is having an impact on them, especially for regional and interstate fans who travel to games.
President of the AFLFA, Ron Issko, said, “Travel arrangements, interstate trips involving airfares and accommodation, family and work commitments and scheduling holidays all affect fans with an unknown floating fixture for the later rounds.”
“We have to bear in mind that changes in the cost of living have shifted significantly in the past 12 months. Fans want to know if there is value in buying a membership by identifying how many games they are likely to attend by seeing a full fixture,” says Ron.
“The floating fixture was born out of necessity during the COVID-19 period when the AFL needed to be agile and innovative, but that time has clearly passed.”
Ron acknowledges that while a floating fixture provides some commercial, scheduling and broadcaster benefits, it should not completely outweigh the inconvenience and impacts on fans that a continued floating fixture brings.
No other major sporting codes, locally or internationally, have a floating fixture with unknown scheduling of matches.
When asked for comment, no response was received from the AFL.
“On behalf of fans, we call for fixture certainty in 2024 and want the full fixture to be announced,” said Ron.
AFLFA membership is free, and fans are encouraged to join at www.aflfans.org.au
More information: Email: media@aflfans.org.au.