One-sided GEELONG vs COLLINGWOOD contest still delivers a ratings blockbuster

As superstars Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Gary Ablett – seeking to win one last flag before his imminent retirement – led the Cats into their fourth Preliminary Final in five years.

The Geelong vs Collingwood was broadcast was top rating FTA sport of the week, with a national audience of 1.126mil (865k metro).

Seven’s Melbourne audience of 557,000 was up a whopping 44 per cent on last year’s Saturday night Semi Final between the Brisbane Lions and GWS Giants. It was also the highest Melbourne audience for any final so far this year.

The game also secured an additional audience of 286k on Fox Footy (not including streaming). The result pushes the combined FTA+PayTV audience to 1.412mil nationally.

Over the first two weeks of a finals, Seven has recorded an average metro audience of 856,000 – up 15 per cent year on year.

Melbourne has recorded the biggest growth of any market with viewer numbers up 27 per cent year on year, while the 2020 series has also seen growth in Adelaide with the average audience up 14 per cent year on year. 

Seven’s AFL coverage continues to grow in the northern markets, with Sydney’s average finals audience up three per cent year on year despite both the Sydney Swans and Giants missing this year’s series, while Brisbane’s average audience is up two per cent ahead of the Lions’ much-anticipated preliminary final appearance next Saturday night.

Friday night’s match between Richmond and St Kilda scored an audience of 1.043mil (802k metro), including 552k in Melbourne on Seven. An additional 267k watched the coverage on Fox Footy (not including streaming)

Finals coverage continues next week with a powerhouse pair of Preliminary Finals. Grand Final spots will be on the line when minor premier Port Adelaide and reigning premier Richmond clash on Friday night at Adelaide Oval, before home favourites Brisbane Lions take on Chris Scott’s on-song Cats on Saturday night at the Gabba.

Friday nights Roosters vs Raiders NRL clash averaged 781k (489 metro) on Nine with an additional 302k watching on Fox League (not including streaming)

Saturday nights coverage of the Eels vs Rabbitohs averaged 836k (513k metro) on Nine. with an additional 331k on Fox League.