Is Queensland really becoming an AFL state?

Departing AFL boss Gill McLachlan claimed recently that Queensland was becoming an AFL state.

“We’ll be the biggest sport in that market in 5-10 years across most metrics,” McLachlan boldly claimed back in July. “It is changing. Queensland is pumping and becoming an AFL state.”

You wouldn’t have known it this week, though, judging by the attention the Brisbane Lions are receiving compared to the Broncos in the lead-up to their respective AFL and NRL grand finals.

Last Saturday, McLachlan’s theory was put to the ultimate test. The Lions, in a preliminary final against Carlton, was the precursor to the Broncos-Warriors NRL preliminary final later that night.

In Brisbane, 161,000 tuned into Channel Seven for the Lions’ grand final qualifier. That compared to the 316,000 in Brisbane who watched the Broncos end New Zealand’s resurgent season on Nine, the owner of this masthead.

In the first weekend of the codes’ respective finals series, the Broncos drew triple the television audience of the Lions. The Lions’ match against Port Adelaide had 82,000 television viewers while, the night before, 242,000 watched the Broncos claim victory over the Storm on Channel Nine.

Say cheese: Reece Walsh with adoring fans at training on Monday.Credit: Tertius Pickard/SMH

“Gill is obviously on his way out and probably isn’t spending as much time in Queensland as he would want to,” Kylie Blucher, managing director of Nine Queensland, told this masthead.

“He probably doesn’t recognise the absolute euphoria around the Broncos right now. You can’t go on the street without seeing a Broncos fan. This is changing the landscape of Brisbane.

“When the Broncos go well, Brisbane goes well. This is historic. The history is in the making and this is what has captured the entire.”

On the Brisbane Times website, owned by Nine, there has been four times the amount of traffic to NRL stories compared to AFL stories since last Saturday. AFL ranks behind soccer, cricket, rugby union and NRL for most-read stories on the Brisbane Times.

The back and front pages of Brisbane’s The Courier Mail newspaper this week.

The Broncos have been on the front and back page of all editions of The Courier Mail, owned by News Corp, this week.

It’s the culmination of a huge year for rugby league in Queensland, including the introduction of the Dolphins, the dominated of the State of Origin side and the grand final appearances of both the Broncos in the NRL and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRLW.

At the time of McLachlan’s comments, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys scoffed at suggestions AFL participation numbers had overtaken those of rugby league.

“They must be counting arms and legs and any other appendages,” V’landys said. “But I admire how they don’t get dizzy from all the spin.”

Keidean Coleman celebrates after the team’s preliminary final win, in which he played a key role.Credit: Getty Images

Research by GEMBA shows that 44 per cent of Queenslanders are passionate supporters of the NRL. This has increased about 11 per cent over the past two years. By comparison, 28 per cent of Queenslanders say they are passionate supporters of the AFL, ranking the code fourth in the Sunshine State.

Travel experts estimate around 60,000 fans will travel from Queensland to either Melbourne or Sydney this weekend to watch the AFL and NRL grand finals.

Watch the NRL Grand Final Exclusive Live and Free on Channel 9 and 9Now.