Sydney Swans still battling to win TV eyeballs against league and union

THE Sydney Swans dominate crowds in the Harbour City and their membership base is extremely strong, but television numbers tell a vastly different story.

A big crowd watched the Sydney-Hawthorn clash at the SCG. Picture: AAP

THE Sydney Swans’ average home crowd this season almost trumps the combined totals of the three Sydney NRL teams playing finals football.

On that level, it’s a knockout victory.

However, television numbers tell a vastly different story.

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The Swans v GWS Giants crowd at the SCG on Saturday afternoon should dwarf attendances for both Penrith v Warriors at ANZ Stadium and Sydney Roosters v Cronulla at Allianz Stadium.

But who will win the battle for the eyeballs overall?

Every time the Swans have gone head-to-head with the NRL on free-to-air TV in 2018, the AFL has lost hands down in the Sydney market they’re desperate to dominate.

A fortnight ago, Channel 7 underlined the enormity of the Swans v Hawthorn blockbuster at the SCG by shifting the AFL to its main channel in Sydney.

A big crowd watches Sydney’s Tom Papley snap for goal against the Hawks. Picture: Phil Hillyard

But despite the Swans playing for a top-four berth and a crowd of 39,000 hanging on the edges of their seats, the Bloods rated 100,000 in Sydney to be comfortably beaten by the 130,000 watching the battling Wallabies on Ten and 151,000 watching the Roosters v Broncos on Nine.

It paints a picture that the Swans may not be the Sydney super club their crowds suggest.

On the surface, the Swans are in a league of their own in the harbour city, with a membership base of 50,000 and an average home crowd at the SCG of 34,000.

To put those impressive numbers in perspective, NRL premiership hopes Penrith, the Roosters and Sharks average just 14,204, 13,274 and 12,700 respectively.

But outside those turning up at the SCG, there aren’t a lot of others watching.

“The comparisons are difficult because of the different deals that exist,” said AFL executive Travis Auld.

“We spend less time comparing between and more about understanding what the trends are in our market. That relates to what games you put in what slots.”

Originally published as Sydney Swans still battling to win TV eyeballs against league and union