Advertisement

Peter V'landys shut down over AFL dig after backlash to 'pathetic' scenes at Panthers game

The AFL recorded its biggest grand final audience since 2016 as it threatens to surpass the NRL in the NSW-market.

adam lucius
Contributor
·3-min read

The AFL is living rent free in NRL boss Peter V'landys' head as the arguments rages over which code's winning the battle for the hearts, minds – and eyeballs – of footy fans in Australia. That's the argument being put forward by leading media analyst Steve Allen after the AFL attracted a huge television audience for Saturday's Swans-Lions grand final at a sold-out MCG.

Just over four million viewers watched the Lions demolish the Swans in a one-sided decider, handing the AFL its biggest grand final audience since 2016. Last year's NRL grand final between Penrith and Brisbane attracted a total audience of 3.52m. But despite that V'landy's believes the NRL has a stranglehold on the NSW market.

However, Allen, director of strategy and research at Pearman Media, questioned V'landys' mathematics. telling Yahoo Sport Australia: "V'landys is reported to have said NRL is number one (in the country), yet on any statistic I can find... not so. I think the NRL's position is all bluster.

Pictured left Peter V'landys and right Panthers crowd
Peter V'landys continues to shut down talk that the AFL could overtake the NRL in the NSW-market. Image: Getty/X

"AFL outrates them, especially in finals series, completely dominates in attendances, annihilates them in supporter numbers and in revenue. So what more is there to be said?"

The NRL is hopeful of strong figures for Sunday's night's Panthers-Storm showdown, given there will be increased interest in Victoria. And V'landys last week took exception to a prediction the AFL would eventually overtake the NRL in NSW, declaring: "I think that’s a delusional comment.

"Facts are facts and the AFL has not got the viewers in NSW like rugby league has. Sometimes they get 23,000 viewers on TV out of Sydney. We get a million. So it’s a bit hard to say that you’re going to take over when you’re that far behind."

AFL grand final crowd pictured.
Just over four million viewers watched the Lions demolish the Swans in a one-sided decider, handing the AFL its biggest grand final audience since 2016. Image: Getty

RELATED:

Allen expects the NRL to enjoy a slight ratings rise on Sunday night but not enough to threaten the AFL's grand final figures. He said: "It won't be much of a rise but there will be a rise. But it won't be within a bull's roar of the AFL. They (the AFL) are clearly ahead."

The NRL desperately craves a big grand final audience – both live and on TV – to claw back some ground lost in Sydney to the Swans during their run to the AFL decider. While the Swans attracted huge numbers to the SCG for their two finals matches, there were poor turnouts for the Cronulla-North Queensland and Cronulla-Penrith NRL play-off matches in Sydney. V'andys hopes the combined Victoria-NSW-Queensland viewing figures will give the NRL something to celebrate on Monday morning.