Gerard Healy asks why footy fans are switching off as TV ratings dive

Television ratings for AFL games on Thursday and Friday night have slumped in 2018.

It prompted a reaction from Sportsday callers, offering their own views as to why they’re switching off.

An average of 292,000 Melbourne viewers have tuned in for the first 10 rounds on Channel Seven, down from 361,000 last year.

“For me, it’s congestion,” Gerard Healy said.

“Low scoring congested games can be exciting at the finish, getting there is often tedious and uninspiring.

“It belies logic that we could let the game evolve to the point where the greatest single attraction the game has ever produced, the high marking, high goal kicking full forward has gone the way of the dodo.”

But Dwayne Russell had his own ideas about the falling numbers.

“I’ve got a couple of games I’m really excited about on the weekend,” he said.

“One of those games should be Friday night, we need Friday night momentum.”

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Photo: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy