AFL has always had a rich tradition and supporters that love the game and are used to the way it always worked.
Over more then a century, there have been elements that are irreplaceable. Such as the way fans belt out songs after every win and they are a huge part of the club’s identity. Seasons starting in mid-March and the traditional Grand Final day slot.
The problem we fans are starting to see the impact of, is that recently the unnecessary habit of the AFL messing with things that don’t need fixing.
The first crucial example of this is the recent decision to change or remix certain AFL clubs theme songs. The original ones sung by The Fable Singers were perfectly fine for all teams, they had unique character about them and matched the identity of the teams perfectly well. Now the league has decided to replace them with some more “modern versions”, these seem well over polished and take away what really made the game so special.
For instance, why get The Potbelleez to sing a West Coast song that sounds like a live band performance or that is good enough for an advertising membership campaign video? Why change the second version of the Geelong song when their song about being “the greatest team of all” was perfectly well loved by all fans and didn’t need altering.
Plus, the traditional St Kilda song with the drums really banging was by far the best version, now it sounds like a low based guitar. Why change what was already working?
Not only are the change in theme songs the beginning of what’s starting to annoy the fans who pay good money but, also, the beginning of the AFL season has always been as the seasons transition towards the start of Autumn.
A seasonal shift is something all AFL fans love and anticipate. Yet there has been discussion from the league to recently attempt going forward starting the season later, such as mid-April. Moving the start of the season forward will not only mess with the fan’s rhythm of anticipation, in which they plan their lives around, but could also mess with the scheduling of traditional events, like what round would ANZAC round fall?
Conor Nash looks on as Gryan Miers is seen with medical staff. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Would there be room for the traditional Good Friday match or the Easter Monday clash?
Not only that, but would it push the traditional Grand Final slot of the last Saturday in September back to October by force? Whilst on that subject, we as fans know of the continuous debate around if the AFL will shift the Grand Final start time to a twilight start or night slot.
For the Grand Final tradition during the day is what every fan loves and wants, the traditional barbeques people host around midday onwards with packed loungerooms and the thrill of the fans who get there to enjoy the thrill of a Grand Final in the sunlight.
Why change it? To get TV ratings up or worry about what sponsors want more? It would ignore the voice of the fans who pay their money and enjoy the game for the traditions we are used to seeing.
The core of the AFL is about its fans. Supporters may not show as much loyalty if the AFL continues to tweak traditions that really don’t need fixing. We as supporters really don’t ask for much. Only to continue hearing the songs we’re used to and have been singing for generations.
Keep the Grand Final tradition with the perfect daytime slot and start the season as it has been starting in March for over decades now. Remember, tradition is more than often what makes the game attractive.
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