Friday Night Football (Australia)
Encyclopedia
In Australia
, Friday Night Football is the broadcasting of both the National Rugby League
(NRL) and Australian Football League
(AFL) Friday night
matches on television
. 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
. The Seven Network
has regained broadcast rights for the AFL starting with the 2007 season
, while the Nine 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
and Tasmania
; and rugby league
in New South Wales
, Queensland
and Australian 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 at no extra charge for foxsports subscribers. However, it is not known whether the NRL is shown live in to Victoria's Main Event Channel.
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 2000 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).
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. As with Monday Night Football, regular Friday fixtures only commenced in the latter half of the season. By 1990, a Friday night game was usually scheduled in all rounds.
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.
In 2001, Friday Night Football used an updated song, Friday on My Mind
(sung my Vanessa Amorosi
and Lee Kernaghan
) to open Channel Nine's coverage. Since 2002, it has been opened by the Wide World of Sport's banner. In 2007, End Of Fashion
's song The Game was used, whilst in 2009 and 2010 Children Collide
's song Social Currency was used. In 2011, the NRL's main theme song, Bon Jovi
's This is Our House, was used.
In the past, a Nine News or Nightline update separated the two broadcast matches, however in 2008 this was discontinued. In 2010, it was reinstated, before it was again scrapped.
pioneered the world first initiative. At this time, these games were irregularly scheduled, and they only involved North Melbourne. By 1987 they had begun to involve other clubs and were played on a more regular basis. The Seven 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.
Between 2002-2006, the Nine Network
had the rights to the AFL as well as the Friday night broadcast. During those years, as the network also had the rights to the NRL
, in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia the AFL match would be broadcast first at 8:30pm, followed by a news update and then the NRL match. This would be reversed in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland.
In 2006 a remix of the U2
song Vertigo was used to open the Friday Night coverage. In 2005 Nickelback
's song See You at the Show was used.
Friday Night AFL is generally played in Melbourne, at either the Melbourne Cricket Ground
or Docklands Stadium. On a few occasions each season however, it may be played at either AAMI Stadium
in Adelaide
or Subiaco Oval
in Perth
with one of the two Adelaide or Perth based sides hosting the match. In 2005, a Western 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 popular NRL, however in 2008 the Brisbane Lions
hosted a home game at the Gabba
, leaving the Sydney Swans
without a Friday night match since 2003 (despite the fact that they have played many finals on Friday nights in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008). Neither the Lions or Swans were awarded Friday night matches for 2010, however the Lions were awarded two Thursday night matches against Carlton, the first of which was played at the Gabba and broadcast by Channel Seven
and the other time at Etihad Stadium and broadcast by Channel Ten
. In fact since 2003, the Swans have played more Friday night matches than the Lions, however all of them (the Swans played six to the Lions' three) were finals. The Lions' three Friday night matches since 2001 were two premiership matches against Collingwood
in 2008 and 2009 and a final in 2009 against the Western Bulldogs
. In 2011, the Sydney Swans
had its first Friday night home-and-away fixture since round 5, 2003, against Carlton
in round six, but lost narrowly.
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
and Dennis Cometti
, special comments from Tom Harley
, Leigh Matthews
and field commentary from Tim Watson
and Matthew Richardson
. The Herald Sun
's Mark Robinson provides post match analysis in studio. Rick Olarenshaw
was a boundary rider until he was sacked by the Seven Network
in 2009.
Occasionally, the Seven Network
may show a match live especially if it is against two top teams such as St Kilda, Collingwood or Geelong. The round 9, 2010 match between Collingwood and Geelong was broadcast live into Melbourne, as was the St Kilda vs. Geelong Grand Final rematch in round 13, 2010.
As of 2011, the Friday night match is replayed the following morning (Saturday) at 6am on 7mate
. In 2010, the matches were replayed at 6am the following morning (Saturday) on 7Two
. Occasionally, some matches may be shown live into Sydney and/or Brisbane via 7mate
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Friday Night Football is the broadcasting of both the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) and Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) Friday night
Night
Night or nighttime is the period of time when the sun is below the horizon. This occurs after dusk. The opposite of night is day...
matches on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. 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
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
. The Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
has regained broadcast rights for the AFL starting with the 2007 season
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
, while the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
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
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
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
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
; and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal 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
Main Event
Main Event is Australia's only pay-per-view channel. It transmits through Foxtel, Optus Television and Austar, which jointly own the channel...
channel at no extra charge for foxsports subscribers. However, it is not known whether the NRL is shown live in to Victoria's Main Event Channel.
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 2000 and 2006 inclusive, the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
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
Regular non-weekend football started life as Monday Night Football in 1985, with Canterbury meeting ManlyManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
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. As with Monday Night Football, regular Friday fixtures only commenced in the latter half of the season. By 1990, a Friday night game was usually scheduled in all rounds.
With the 2007
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
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.
In 2001, Friday Night Football used an updated song, Friday on My Mind
Friday on My Mind
"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, #1 in Australia and #6 in the UK, as well as charting in several...
(sung my Vanessa Amorosi
Vanessa Amorosi
Vanessa Amorosi is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Her combined album and single sales have reached over 2 million worldwide.-Early life:...
and Lee Kernaghan
Lee Kernaghan
Lee Kernaghan OAM is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He was the 2008 Australian of the Year.-Honours:Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004....
) to open Channel Nine's coverage. Since 2002, it has been opened by the Wide World of Sport's banner. In 2007, End Of Fashion
End of Fashion
End of Fashion are an Australian power pop band from Perth, Western Australia. The band consists of singer and guitarist Justin Burford, guitarist Rodney Aravena, bassist Simon Fasolo, and drummer Mike Hobbs. The group gained mainstream attention with their 2005 single "O Yeah", which reached...
's song The Game was used, whilst in 2009 and 2010 Children Collide
Children Collide
Children Collide is an Australian indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The band consists of drummer Ryan Caesar, bassist Heath Crawley, and vocalist/guitarist John Mackay...
's song Social Currency was used. In 2011, the NRL's main theme song, Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
's This is Our House, was used.
In the past, a Nine News or Nightline update separated the two broadcast matches, however in 2008 this was discontinued. In 2010, it was reinstated, before it was again scrapped.
Memorable events
- Round 13, 2010 saw ParramattaParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and MelbourneMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
face off for the first time since the previous year's Grand Final2009 NRL Grand FinalThe 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
, which was subject to suggestions that the Storm should hand over the premiership they lost as a result of salary cap breaches earlier in the year. Parramatta won the match 24-10 but it wasn't without controversy, with Eels and NSWNew South Wales rugby league teamThe New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
fullback Jarryd HayneJarryd HayneJarryd Lee Hayne is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian, Fiji international representative winger and fullback, he has played his entire NRL career to date with Parramatta, with whom he got to the...
booked with headbutting Storm and QueenslandQueensland State of Origin TeamThe Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
rival Billy SlaterBilly SlaterBilly Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
midway through the second half (Hayne was later exonerated at the judiciary). Not long before, Storm prop Brett WhiteBrett WhiteBrett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
was booked for taking out Eels prop Fuifui MoimoiFuifui MoimoiFuifui Moana Moimoi is a New Zealand-Tongan professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition.-Playing career:...
, and not long after the Hayne incident Slater and Eels halfback Daniel MortimerDaniel MortimerDaniel Mortimer is an Australian professional rugby league player. He currently plays for Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League and previously played for the Parramatta Eels. He is the son of former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Australian Rugby League player Peter Mortimer...
were sin binned for fighting. - In Round 19, 2009, a referee was knocked out midway through the second half of the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
vs. South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney RabbitohsThe South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
match. Brisbane's Tonie CarrollTonie CarrollTonie Carroll is retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and New Zealand international representative utility, he played for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL...
accidentally kneed him in the head after Tony De Las Heras was initially felled by Rabbitoh Jamie SimpsonJamie SimpsonJamie Simpson born 6 September 1986 in Australia is a rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. He currently plays as a centre or on the wing, but was successful as a lock and Five-Eighth in his schoolboy years at St...
; but no judiciary action was taken on both players. The Rabbitohs won the match 44-12, their first win at Suncorp Stadium in twenty years. - In Round 24, 2008, for the second time in a row at Suncorp StadiumSuncorp StadiumLang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and Gold Coast TitansGold Coast TitansGold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
went into golden pointGolden pointThe golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
, the Broncos taking out both games. Both the Broncos' wins against the Titans have been from golden pointGolden pointThe golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
. - In Round 15, 2008, the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
recovered from a 12–8 half-time deficit to beat the Wests TigersWests TigersThe Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
, with Karmichael HuntKarmichael HuntKarmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
kicking a field goal to seal a 19–18 win with 8 minutes to go. Ironically, St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra DragonsThe St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
' Jamie SowardJamie SowardJamie Soward is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of National Rugby League...
kicked a field goal to seal a 13-12 win. Both games avoided going into golden pointGolden pointThe golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
. - In Round 12, 2008, Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
winger Denan KempDenan KempDenan Kemp is an Australian professional rugby footballer who currently plays rugby league for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League . A speedy winger, he has previously played in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos and the New Zealand Warriors before a brief stint in rugby...
scored a try after the siren after receiving a kick from Darren LockyerDarren LockyerDarren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
to give the Broncos a 30-26 win over Parramatta EelsParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
after trailing 18-10 at half-time. - In Round 3, 2008, the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
set a club record 50,612 for a home match at Suncorp StadiumSuncorp StadiumLang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
against the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. - In Round 17, 2007, the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
were down 18-12 with three minutes to go until Corey Parker converted a Dave TaylorDavid Taylor (rugby league)Dave Taylor is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League...
try to send the game into extra time. After the first set of six tackles in the first minute of golden pointGolden pointThe golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
, Broncos captain Darren LockyerDarren LockyerDarren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
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 the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and the South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney RabbitohsThe South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
finished in dramatic circumstances, Souths having to run 100 metres to score in the final minute of play. They kicked towards the eastern grandstand, and John Sutton won the race to the ball. But, as he was about to ground the ball, he knocked on, Brisbane fullback Karmichael HuntKarmichael HuntKarmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
the culprit. Broncos won 8-4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou2YzAi1v5g - In 2007 there were two golden pointGolden pointThe golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
matches played at the same time in round three. First, the Parramatta EelsParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
defeated the Wests TigersWests TigersThe Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
after Eels' Luke BurtLuke BurtLuke Kevin Burt is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition...
potted a penalty goal in the 87th minute of play. Over in Brisbane, the Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
forced the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
into golden point after being down 28-20 with five minutes to go. Also in the 87th minute, Panthers five-eighth Peter WallacePeter WallacePeter James "Wal" Wallace is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL. A New South Wales City and State of Origin representative halfback, he also previously played for the Penrith Panthers club.-Early life:Wallace was born in Melbourne and moved to...
booted a field goal to give the Panthers a 29-28 win. - In round one, 2007, the Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
and the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, grand finalists from 2006, played 2005 grand finalists the Wests TigersWests TigersThe Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
and the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
respectively to open the season. The runners-up won their matches. - In the final round of 2006, Cowboys' Travis NortonTravis NortonTravis Norton is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, Matt SingMatt SingMatthew Charles Sing is an Australian semi-retired professional rugby league footballer for the Central Comets in the Queensland Cup. His first grade career spanned much of the 1990s and 2000s...
and Josh HannayJosh HannayJosh Hannay is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He is a former Queensland state representative and the current record holder with the greatest points scored in the history of the North Queensland Cowboys club.-Club career:Hannay was named to make his debut at the age of 16...
all played their last games at home before moving on. - At the final stages of the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle KnightsThe Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
v Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-Warringah Sea EaglesThe Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
match in rd 23, 2006, an Andrew JohnsAndrew JohnsAndrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
pass went astray, landing on the sidelines. Knights players remonstrated with the referees, arguing that a Manly player had knocked on in an attempt to intercept the pass. After a touch judge ruled otherwise, Johns confronted and yelled at him calling him a: "Fucking Cunt". Johns was ejected, suspended for two matches, and fined $5,000. - Three Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
home matches were played in 2006, two of which were delayed in Melbourne, starting at 5:30am the following Saturday, meaning that Melbourne Storm fans would have woken up watching their local team in action. - With one minute to go and four points down against the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, Dragons halfback Mathew HeadMathew HeadMathew Head is an Australian professional rugby league player for the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He previously played for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League and Hull in Super League. He primarily plays at half-back.-St. George Illawarra Dragons:Head's career has been plagued by...
kicked to Brett MorrisBrett MorrisBrett Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he is the son of St...
' wing, creating a last-gasp try. Aaron GorrellAaron GorrellAaron Gorrell is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL. He has previously played for the St George Illawarra Dragons before a spell with Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League...
kicked the conversion and broke the hearts of Broncos supporters (Ironically, Gorrell would later go on to play for the Broncos). - In the final moments of the Manly vs. Wests Tigers match at Brookvale Oval, Sea Eagles halfback Matt OrfordMatt OrfordMatthew Orford is an Australian professional rugby league player, last playing for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League competition...
kicked down field and Brett StewartBrett StewartBrett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
caught his kick. He then scored a freakish try to win the game for the Silvertails. - The round 13, 2006 match between the St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra DragonsThe St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
and Parramatta EelsParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
saw only nine points scored. After 70 minutes, there was no score until Parramatta's John Morris kicked the first field goal of the match, and therefore, the first points of the match. Then, Dragons captain Ben HornbyBen HornbyBen Hornby is an Australian Naruto loving professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the St George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League...
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's Jeremy Smith threw the ball away, landing into the hands of Matt 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 by Aaron GorrellAaron GorrellAaron Gorrell is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL. He has previously played for the St George Illawarra Dragons before a spell with Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League...
, and St George Illawarra won 8-1. - 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 packed Parramatta StadiumParramatta StadiumParramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
. - In 2005, Golden BootRugby League World Golden Boot AwardThe Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is a rugby league award handed out annually for achievements in rugby league by Rugby League World magazine...
winner Anthony MinichielloAnthony MinichielloAnthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales and Australia...
scored a 70m try against the Broncos which contributed to the Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
winning their first match at Suncorp StadiumSuncorp StadiumLang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp 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 the Wests TigersWests TigersThe Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in rd 24. - In rd 18, 2005, the Eels and Dragons fought out a controversial match at Parramatta Stadium, in a match which saw Trent BarrettTrent BarrettTrent Barrett is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
get to grips with PJ MarshPJ MarshPeter-John "PJ" Marsh is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for a number of clubs in the National Rugby League. He has also played representative rugby league for Queensland in State of Origin. He is named after his uncle, Peter John Marsh, who was killed in a car...
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 at Leichhardt OvalLeichhardt OvalLeichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus...
between the Tigers and the Sea Eagles. The hosts won 49-24. - During a 2005 match between the Roosters and the Eels, Roosters centre Ryan CrossRyan CrossRyan Cross is a Rugby Union football player for Racing Metro 92 after signing from USA Perpignan in the French Top 14. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition, the Western Force and the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby.-Early career:Son of former rugby...
was alleged to have eye-gouged Parramatta's Glenn MorrisonGlenn MorrisonGlenn Adam Morrison is a former Australian professional rugby league player. He played for the Parramatta Eels, Balmain Tigers, North Sydney Bears, and the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League before moving to England to play for the Bradford Bulls and then the Wakefield Trinity...
in the face. He received a six-match suspension 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-quarter Justin HodgesJustin HodgesJustin Hodges is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League...
was sent off for coathanging Steve Price, and in 2005 Adrian MorleyAdrian MorleyAdrian Morley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League...
would get marched for his high tackle on Matt UtaiMatt UtaiMatthew Utai is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wests Tigers in the NRL and has previously represented both New Zealand and Samoa. His usual position is on the wing.-Playing career:...
. - In 2004, Newcastle KnightsNewcastle KnightsThe Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
forward Clint NewtonClint NewtonClint Newton is an American born professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in Super League. He previously played for Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition...
was sent off for elbowing St George Illawarra forward Ashton SimsAshton SimsAshton Sims is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League . A Fiji international representative forward, he previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Brisbane Broncos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U49MyfvePVo. - The Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
have lost their last Friday the 13thFriday the 13thFriday the 13th occurs when the thirteenth day of a month falls on a Friday, which superstition holds to be a day of bad luck. In the Gregorian calendar, this day occurs at least once, but at most three times a year...
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 at Olympic Park StadiumOlympic Park StadiumOlympic Park Stadium was a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on Olympic Boulevard in inner Melbourne. The stadium was built as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics, a short distance from the MCG, which served as the Olympic Stadium...
witnessed the Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
thrash the Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
66-14. - A then-record crowd of 18,669 at Campbelltown StadiumCampbelltown StadiumCampbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a rugby league stadium in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. It is the full time home ground for the Western Suburbs Magpies District Rugby League Football Club and is one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers...
witnessed the Wests TigersWests TigersThe Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
crash to a 56-0 thrashing at the hands of the Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. - Fielding an injury-hit side, the St George Illawrra Dragons got out of jail against the Brisbane Broncos in rd 26, 2003, when hooker Mark RiddellMark RiddellMark Robert Riddell is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s...
kicked a penalty goal 41 metres out from the goalline. The Dragons won 26-25. Among those missing for the Dragons included: Trent BarrettTrent BarrettTrent Barrett is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, Mark GasnierMark GasnierMark Gasnier is an Australian former rugby league player, a state and national representative centre three-quarter. He played eleven top-grade seasons with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, interrupted by two seasons of rugby union played with the French club Stade Français. He was a...
, Matt Cooper, Jason RylesJason RylesJason Ryles is an Australian rugby league player. He has played in the National Rugby League for the Sydney Roosters and the St. George Illawarra Dragons and in Europe's Super League for the Catalans Dragons. He is contracted to play for the Melbourne Storm from 2012...
, Brett FirmanBrett FirmanBrett Firman is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s. He now plays for the Helensburgh Tigers of the Illawarra Rugby League. He previously played in the National Rugby League, primarily in the halves, for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters, North...
and Lance ThompsonLance ThompsonLance Thompson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the St. George Dragons, the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Cronulla Sharks...
.
Australian Football League
The first Australian rules matches on Friday nights were introduced in 1985 when the North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
pioneered the world first initiative. At this time, these games were irregularly scheduled, and they only involved North Melbourne. By 1987 they had begun to involve other clubs and were played on a more regular basis. The Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
, 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.
Between 2002-2006, the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
had the rights to the AFL as well as the Friday night broadcast. During those years, as the network also had the rights to the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia the AFL match would be broadcast first at 8:30pm, followed by a news update and then the NRL match. This would be reversed in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland.
In 2006 a remix of the U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
song Vertigo was used to open the Friday Night coverage. In 2005 Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
's song See You at the Show was used.
Friday Night AFL is generally played in Melbourne, at either the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
or Docklands Stadium. On a few occasions each season however, it may be played at either AAMI Stadium
AAMI Stadium
Football Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
or Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
with one of the two Adelaide or Perth based sides hosting the match. In 2005, a Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
between West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
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 popular NRL, however in 2008 the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
hosted a home game at the Gabba
Brisbane Cricket Ground
The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located....
, leaving the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
without a Friday night match since 2003 (despite the fact that they have played many finals on Friday nights in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008). Neither the Lions or Swans were awarded Friday night matches for 2010, however the Lions were awarded two Thursday night matches against Carlton, the first of which was played at the Gabba and broadcast by Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and the other time at Etihad Stadium and broadcast by Channel Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
. In fact since 2003, the Swans have played more Friday night matches than the Lions, however all of them (the Swans played six to the Lions' three) were finals. The Lions' three Friday night matches since 2001 were two premiership matches against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 2008 and 2009 and a final in 2009 against the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
. In 2011, the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
had its first Friday night home-and-away fixture since round 5, 2003, against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in round six, but lost narrowly.
If a Friday night match featuring either Adelaide or Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
is played in Melbourne, it is shown live into Seven Adelaide from 7:00pm. Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, 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
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
or Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
is played, either in Perth or Melbourne, it is delayed by one hour (thus airing at 7:30pm on Seven Perth
TVW
TVW can mean:*TVW, a Seven Network owned station in Perth, Western Australia*TVW, a public affairs network in the state of Washington*"tvw", the false branding callsign of WISC-TV's digital subchannel and Madison, Wisconsin's MyNetworkTV affiliate...
).
Seven's commentary team includes commentary from Bruce McAvaney
Bruce McAvaney
Bruce William McAvaney OAM is an Australian sports broadcaster with the Seven Network, well-known for his commentary of Australian rules football matches as well as covering every Summer Olympic Games from Moscow 1980 until Beijing 2008.- Early years :The son of an Adelaide accountant, McAvaney...
and Dennis Cometti
Dennis Cometti
Dennis Cometti is a former Australian rules football player and coach for West Perth in the West Australian Football League and Footscray in the Victorian Football League but is best known as a commentator. In a career spanning almost 40 years, his dry humour and smooth voice have become his...
, special comments from Tom Harley
Tom Harley
Thomas 'Tom' Harley is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League...
, Leigh Matthews
Leigh Matthews
Leigh Raymond "Lethal Leigh" Matthews AM is a former player and coach of Australian rules football. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League from 1969 to 1985, coached Collingwood from 1986–1995, and coached the Brisbane Lions from 1999 to 2008...
and field commentary from Tim Watson
Tim Watson
Timothy Michael "Tim" Watson is a former Australian rules footballer and coach, sports journalist and media personality.He is notable for his long career at the Essendon Football Club as a player where he participated in several premiership teams...
and Matthew Richardson
Matthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)
Matthew "Richo" Richardson , is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Australian Football League...
. The Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
's Mark Robinson provides post match analysis in studio. Rick Olarenshaw
Rick Olarenshaw
Rick Olarenshaw is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.He was formerly a boundary rider for Network Seven until being replaced by Matthew Richardson.-Essendon:...
was a boundary rider until he was sacked by the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
in 2009.
Occasionally, the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
may show a match live especially if it is against two top teams such as St Kilda, Collingwood or Geelong. The round 9, 2010 match between Collingwood and Geelong was broadcast live into Melbourne, as was the St Kilda vs. Geelong Grand Final rematch in round 13, 2010.
As of 2011, the Friday night match is replayed the following morning (Saturday) at 6am on 7mate
7mate
7mate is an Australian free-to-air high definition digital television channel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010.The network stated that 7mate would contain sport and regular programs aimed primarily at a male audience, with programming drawn from a combination of new...
. In 2010, the matches were replayed at 6am the following morning (Saturday) on 7Two
7Two
7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
. Occasionally, some matches may be shown live into Sydney and/or Brisbane via 7mate
7mate
7mate is an Australian free-to-air high definition digital television channel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010.The network stated that 7mate would contain sport and regular programs aimed primarily at a male audience, with programming drawn from a combination of new...
.
Memorable events
- Bali Bombing2002 Bali bombingThe 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was claimed as the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according to the current police general, killing 202 people,...
survivor Jason McCartney made his comeback game for the KangaroosNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in round 11, 2003 against RichmondRichmond Football ClubThe Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in front of a packed house at Telstra DomeTelstra DomeDocklands Stadium is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
. He had a hand in his side's winning goal and subsequently announced a teary retirement after the match. - In round 10, 2005, RichmondRichmond Football ClubThe Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
forward Nathan Brown horrifically broke his leg as MelbourneMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
's Matthew WhelanMatthew WhelanMatthew Whelan is a former professional Australian rules football player.Wearing the number 45 jersey, Whelan was reliable defender/back pocket known by Demons fans simply as the "Wheels". He also earned the nickname "Wrecker" for his big hits and tough and uncompromisingly defensive style of...
tried to smother his kick. - EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
's Matthew LloydMatthew LloydMatthew James Lloyd is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and was the captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
played his 200th AFL match against St. Kilda in round 13, 2005. Lloyd booted four goals in the Bombers' 15 point win. - In round 21, 2005 FremantleFremantle Football ClubThe Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
's Justin LongmuirJustin LongmuirJustin Longmuir is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He was a key position forward or ruckman who played for the Fremantle Football Club...
kicked a goal after the siren for Fremantle to beat St Kilda by 5 points. This game would be later known as the Whispers in the SkyWhispers in the Sky"Whispers in the Sky" refers to an Australian rules football controversy in 2005.The controversy centred around an Australian Football League match in Round 21 on 19 August 2005 between Fremantle and St Kilda....
game, after journalist Tony JonesTony Jones (sports journalist)Tony Jones is an Australian sports journalist, based in Melbourne.Jones studied at a radio school before beginning his career in radio newsrooms in country Victoria and Melbourne's 3AW. He joined the Nine Network in May 1986, making the move from news into sport.Tony began presenting weekend...
claimed to have heard an umpire say "Now we know what it's like to have a win" on the plane back to Melbourne. - Adelaide's Mark RicciutoMark RicciutoMark Anthony Ricciuto is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League...
played his 300th AFL match against the KangaroosNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in round 16, 2006. The Crows won by a staggering 72 points, Ricciuto kicking five goals and being chaired from the ground. - In round 18, 2006, St. KildaSt. Kilda Football ClubThe St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club plays in the Australian Football League, the sport's premier league....
backman Matt MaguireMatt MaguireMatt Maguire is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League .-St Kilda Football Club:...
broke his leg after Tyson StengleinTyson StengleinTyson Stenglein is an Australian rules footballer, who played for the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League .- Adelaide career :...
slid into his path.