In a move that has surprised the entire footballing world, including Carlton, the AFL has granted the Blues every single Friday night game in 2016.
The decision comes after the Blues were given seven Friday Night games this year and proceed to lose all of them and by large margins.
“We at the AFL believe footy fans want more Carlton and that’s exactly what we’re going to give them,” said AFL General Manager Broadcasting, Scheduling and Major Projects Simon Lethlean.
“My clear understanding is the fans are not that interested in close games, they just want to see players like Lachie Henderson and Liam Jones go around.”
Footy fans have labelled the decision ‘crazy’ and ‘the worst thing to have ever happened since time began’.
“Seriously? I used to enjoy football on a Friday night, the end of the week, the chance to not talk to my family,” said Joyce Richardson of Berwick.
“Now I’ve got these clowns on every Friday? Well I won’t watch it and I’m a Carlton supporter.”
Carlton President Mark LoGiudice said he welcomed the exposure and looked forward to footy fans seeing almost the whole first half of each Carlton game next year.
“To be honest, even we’ve got no idea why the AFL have done this but we had no idea why they gave us so many this season.”
“Anyway, I’d like to thank the chair of the AFL Commission Mike Fitzpatrick, a former Premiership captain of our club by coincidence, for all the support.”
A spokesperson for Channel Seven in response to the news said 'to be honest we probably won't show it' and 'this is why we don't invest in HD'.
This post originally appeared in Inside Football.
COMMENTS
Andrew Johnston
Aug 14, 2015
Scarily enough - I believe you
Adam Stagoll
Aug 14, 2015
Tao Baker Simon Goodrick Lennard Geale
Phill Tee
Aug 14, 2015
what wasn't revealed was that broadcasters will show the game on a 3 hour delay
Luke Stash Parker
Aug 14, 2015
Blake Gramsbergen Nathan JohnJacob McchrystalRhys Gramsbergen
Joseph Brancatisano
Aug 14, 2015
Marcus Scuotto you guys thoroughly deserve it bro
Matthew Minski
Aug 14, 2015
Ben Dascal
Nathan John
Aug 14, 2015
Have to help the poor clubs out #equalisation
Blake Gramsbergen
Aug 14, 2015
This may be a piss take but I'm sure they will do something like this next year #Equalisation
_h4sh
Aug 14, 2015
TitusOReily even their bye week
JosephCarrozzi
Aug 14, 2015
TitusOReily carlton's games on Friday night start at 10.30pm / prime slot
Heath Woodward
Aug 14, 2015
Grant Fennell
Patrick Skeer
Aug 14, 2015
Todd Boulden Alan Hall Paul Cranwell U0001f602U0001f602
Alan Hall
Aug 14, 2015
U0001f602U0001f602U0001f602U0001f602
Jono Ring
Aug 14, 2015
Darcy Carroll Max Musarra
Darcy Carroll
Aug 14, 2015
Hahahah 'to be honest we probably won't show it'
Snert Underpant
Aug 14, 2015
Excellent news. Now I get to watch White Magic Cleaning Solutions without feeling I've missed a good footy game.
Jono Ring
Aug 14, 2015
Hahahaha
Phoebe Elizabeth
Aug 14, 2015
Chloe Penn
Naveen Baskaran
Aug 14, 2015
A punishment worst than death
Geoff Schaefer
Aug 14, 2015
This is going to rip the guts out of Lygon Street pizza sales on Friday nights...
Josh Gavin
Aug 14, 2015
Dan PS
Ben Dascal
Aug 14, 2015
Haha! The last line about not showing it is the best. Or at least give it at MA rating!
Sam_spic
Aug 14, 2015
TitusOReily thank you!
Daniel Cohen
Aug 14, 2015
Further update. Both Blues vs Demons fixtures declared a Bye giving the teams much needed 8 points, and re-runs of Home and Away means a ratings boost for channel 7.
Michael Lampard
Aug 14, 2015
What difference will it make
Dan PS
Aug 14, 2015
Haha ;)
Trent Conheady
Aug 14, 2015
What about Thursday night games?
Matthew Minski
Aug 14, 2015
Yep, the lack of HD finally makes sense
Clinton Smith
Aug 14, 2015
Daniel Webb
Jane Arnott
Aug 14, 2015
Luckily I've downloaded every episode of Little House on the Prairie.
Joe Garretto
Aug 14, 2015
Elie Bourizk Sayed Bourizk
Bonjour_Pippy
Aug 14, 2015
TitusOReily When you're on a good thing stick to it #AFL fixture
Malcolm Makkinga
Aug 14, 2015
Friday Night Football is the key to getting good sponsors. But in Carlton's case the more exposure they have, the more sponsors they'll lose.
Dan McPharlin
Aug 14, 2015
Don't even joke about this Titus.
Yale Climo
Aug 14, 2015
Justin J P Plant Christian Vizzini Tania Awad Susan Climo
Adam Taxakis
Aug 14, 2015
Lol Billal Ali
Geoff Guggenheimer
Aug 14, 2015
No funny Brad! Well maybe a little!
Billal Ali
Aug 14, 2015
And we get 2..
Phil Crowden
Aug 14, 2015
Should be a ratings WINNER!!!
Rob McClure
Aug 14, 2015
Sounds like #thingstheducksays!!!
Daniel Webb
Aug 14, 2015
Well clearly joice isn't a true Carlton fan. I'm all for it be good to watch my team every Friday night.......
Dean Cherry
Aug 14, 2015
Jacob Hopley
Adam Cox lol
Adam Cox
Aug 14, 2015
Not funny
Jacob Hopley
Aug 14, 2015
Haha its embarrassing when Carlton play Friday night mate
Chris Dorn
Aug 14, 2015
I thought the article was a lie when it claimed that it was a surprise to football supporters.
NickBrooks37
Aug 14, 2015
TitusOReily wintman CarltonFC internal trial every Friday night?
Michelle Fisher
Aug 14, 2015
This is a joke.... Right?
Adam Forbes
Aug 14, 2015
Adam Mullins! oh ohh!!
Rick McClean
Aug 14, 2015
Great...so they have written off Fridays then?
stuartbutler77
Aug 16, 2015
The only way this news could be better is if Ch7 broadcast these games in HD.
73simmo
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily hopefully rotating Melb, Ess, & Bris #moneymakers
AlliC19
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily is this likely to happen - number of finals at the G? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL_finals_system
porridgekemp6
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily in the vfl?
p_annie_14
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily hahaha "the whole first half ..." So true
JT_goddly89
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily it truly is a remarkable feat of humanity that you're able to function after the Dees game #LegendEffort
MathKing14
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily Did you watch your Melbourne today
phil0stine
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily: Pluses > Gives all clubs a win and massive % boost.
Get to go to bed early Friday night so can then enjoy a full weekend.
TitusOReily
Aug 16, 2015
MathKing14 Unfortunately.
PaulCar52668764
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily would be great for the retail industry
Davidgr30431023
Aug 16, 2015
TitusOReily Carlton Friday nights why ?
MyTeamStorm
Aug 16, 2015
kfisme TitusOReily
Good on you Kate for sticking up for your team.
kfisme
Aug 16, 2015
Whaaaa Irena its not easy this year. But we'll come right... MyTeamStorm TitusOReily
MyTeamStorm
Aug 16, 2015
kfisme TitusOReily
Of course they will.
Teams go through good and bad times.
Carlton need supporters like you who stick fat.
kfisme
Aug 16, 2015
Theres heaps of us passionate fans out there but people are sooo discouraged U0001f61f MyTeamStorm TitusOReily
MyTeamStorm
Aug 16, 2015
kfisme TitusOReily
Its hard when a team is losing, many drop off & the criticism starts.
At least Carlton has a great following
#Positive
The Original Buzz
Aug 17, 2015
Awesome, my Fridays are now locked in for the Footy season next year. Be good to see more of the Blues. Top 8 in 2017 and GF in 2018. Stay Tuned for that.......