Western Bulldogs’ pitch to Channel 7 about attractive game style landed blockbuster fixture

[Axe Man]

Western Bulldogs’ pitch to Channel 7 about attractive game style landed blockbuster fixture


The Western Bulldogs’ were handed a blockbuster five-Friday fixture after the club directly lobbied Channel 7 about its attractive style of football.

As the league battles the worst scoring drought since 1968, the Dogs’ proactive measure has helped them secure a bumper draw with four Friday night contests and a return to Good Friday football.

In 2019 the Dogs were allocated one Friday night clash.

They were dumped from Good Friday in 2018, despite a successful clash the previous year against North Melbourne.

The AFL’s desperation to see a return to higher scoring is echoed by broadcasters, with more goals meaning more ad breaks.

The AFL’s fixture comes after input from Seven about the sides it wants to broadcast, with Brisbane and the Dogs rewarded for their sexy style of football.

Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains yesterday confirmed he and chief commercial officer Nick Truelson met with Seven boss Lewis Martin and AFL executive producer Gary O’Keefe to sell the club’s vision after the 2019 season.

The Dogs cited their scoring trends, which saw them rank third for scoring across the competition last year.

They were the heaviest scoring side in the second half of the competition.

From Round 16-23 the Dogs scored a competition-high 101.4 points, had the second-best inside-50 differential and scored the second most points from turnovers.

Luke Beveridge’s side also moved the ball from defence to attack better than any side in football in an era of heavy congestion.

The Dogs’ initiative and determination to maximise their fixture with high-scoring football has been praised by the AFL who has cited the approach at meetings of league CEOs and football bosses across the summer.

Bains said the Dogs were aware there would be peaks and troughs in the 2020 season but wanted to play a high-scoring balanced style of football.

“On the basis of how we played in 2019 we were keen to pitch for a greater prime time fixture in 2020,” Bains said.

“We were the highest scoring team in the back half of the year and we were high up in a lot of those metrics.

“We are really keen to push that and the other element in the broadcast picture is highlighting some of the players we do have.

“The other thing we pushed is getting an insight into players.

“In leagues like the NBA kids are following players as opposed to teams — Dustin Martin has got more Instagram followers than any AFL club.

“Part of our sell was to say we have got obvious talent like Marcus Bontempelli but also the young wave in Tim English and Aaron Naughton.

“We think fans of other teams would be excited to watch us play and see those players shine.”

Brisbane has also secured four Thursday and Friday clashes in 2020 given a dynamic, high-scoring team that plays fast football under senior coach Chris Fagan.

[Bulldog4life]

The club is on the front foot.....I like it.

[Mofra]

"Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains yesterday confirmed he and chief commercial officer Nick Truelson met with Seven boss Lewis Martin and AFL executive producer Gary O’Keefe to sell the club’s vision after the 2019 season."

Sounds like another big tick for Bains to me. Excellent result.

[comrade]

"Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains yesterday confirmed he and chief commercial officer Nick Truelson met with Seven boss Lewis Martin and AFL executive producer Gary O’Keefe to sell the club’s vision after the 2019 season."

Sounds like another big tick for Bains to me. Excellent result.

Next minute, Bevo decides to go ultra defensive in 2020.

[Rocket Science]

Fast-forward to Lewis Martin placing Monday morning calls to Bevo if we don't crack the ton ... Perhaps Channel 7 land a seat at match committee too?

It's lovely we're sexy again, and being proactive about leveraging it, but every time the AFEL reminds us of its real priorities it irks me.

[bulldogtragic]

Next minute, Bevo decides to go ultra defensive in 2020.

Catch 22. Do we stick to our word and play high scoring footy? But what if to win Friday Night games we need to go ultra defensive?

Is our commercial interest (& our word) more/less important than winning? Seems there’s a potential conflict.

That said, Bains is racking up the wins. That said, I hate this article as now 17 other CEOs will do this for next year. That said, if we make Ch7 & AFEL money we will keep them. That said.

[bornadog]

The Dogs cited their scoring trends, which saw them rank third for scoring across the competition last year.

They were the heaviest scoring side in the second half of the competition.

From Round 16-23 the Dogs scored a competition-high 101.4 points, had the second-best inside-50 differential and scored the second most points from turnovers.

Luke Beveridge’s side also moved the ball from defence to attack better than any side in football in an era of heavy congestion.

.

Need to take this into 2020 season

[Mofra]

Need to take this into 2020 season

Pre-season reports indicate it's something we're working on. Makes sense when you add an elite intercept mark at one end (Keath) and an elite contested mark at the other (Bruce).

[MrMahatma]

You can only present the facts as they are, and the data says what it says. I don’t think we’re in any way required to make certain style changes unless it means a better chance of winning. If we need to lock down to win, we can. The reality is Channel 7 need to place bets on who will be worth watching and we’re a good bet. Both cause of scoring and players to watch. Plus, while our fan base isn’t as big as others, we also aren’t likely to make people switch off. When did someone turn off a TV and say “I can’t stand seeing the Dogs win?” Lots of other teams polarise, we don’t.


It’s a smart play and Bains should be commended. The potential $ impact of this is huge, and importantly it puts us on a big stage which will help as we head deep into September and the pressure builds.

[ledge]

You can only present the facts as they are, and the data says what it says. I don’t think we’re in any way required to make certain style changes unless it means a better chance of winning. If we need to lock down to win, we can. The reality is Channel 7 need to place bets on who will be worth watching and we’re a good bet. Both cause of scoring and players to watch. Plus, while our fan base isn’t as big as others, we also aren’t likely to make people switch off. When did someone turn off a TV and say “I can’t stand seeing the Dogs win?” Lots of other teams polarise, we don’t.


It’s a smart play and Bains should be commended. The potential $ impact of this is huge, and importantly it puts us on a big stage which will help as we head deep into September and the pressure builds.

Win or lose in these night games we have always given a good game from what I remember.
We are competitive in these games unlike other sides where the games over at half time recently.

[bornadog]

You can only present the facts as they are, and the data says what it says. I don’t think we’re in any way required to make certain style changes unless it means a better chance of winning. If we need to lock down to win, we can. The reality is Channel 7 need to place bets on who will be worth watching and we’re a good bet. Both cause of scoring and players to watch. Plus, while our fan base isn’t as big as others, we also aren’t likely to make people switch off. When did someone turn off a TV and say “I can’t stand seeing the Dogs win?” Lots of other teams polarise, we don’t.


It’s a smart play and Bains should be commended. The potential $ impact of this is huge, and importantly it puts us on a big stage which will help as we head deep into September and the pressure builds.

The more exposure, the more members (hopefully)

[AshMac]

What a smart and savvy approach. Stupidly it hadn’t occurred to me that the broadcaster would have such a big say in fixturing.

[Hotdog60]

What a smart and savvy approach. Stupidly it hadn’t occurred to me that the broadcaster would have such a big say in fixturing.

TV is driving a lot of what goes on in the AFL

[Eastdog]

TV is driving a lot of what goes on in the AFL

I believe there needs to be a balance between appeasing the supporters/members who go to the games and the TV stations. The AFL lean more to the TV but they really need to meet in the middle. In saying that it is great the TV people listened to us.

[westdog54]

Fast-forward to Lewis Martin placing Monday morning calls to Bevo if we don't crack the ton ... Perhaps Channel 7 land a seat at match committee too?

It's lovely we're sexy again, and being proactive about leveraging it, but every time the AFEL reminds us of its real priorities it irks me.

Spot on. The idea that we were lobbying the broadcaster and not the league for a favourable draw, whilst great business, highlights a lot of what is wrong with the way the game is being run.