Channel Seven has described this Saturday as the biggest night of sport in more than two decades as the Matildas force the Australian sporting establishment to adapt their plans and scheduling.
The 5pm kick-off in Brisbane is the first time in the tournament Australia will play on the same day AFL matches are scheduled. Channel Seven owns the rights to both.
Channel Seven made the decision on Wednesday to screen the Matildas game on the main channel in all states and territories, even though it means news bulletins will be shifted to the end of the match.
Seven Melbourne managing director and head of network sport, Lewis Martin, said: “This Saturday will be a historic moment for all Australians, and the biggest night of sport since Sydney 2000 as the mighty Matildas look to capitalise on their inspiring World Cup campaign.”
The Matildas’ round of 16 match against Denmark was 2023’s highest-rating program and some are predicting Saturday’s match against France will eclipse the audience of 4 million who watched the 2003 men’s rugby World Cup final.
The AFL has moved the start time for the Carlton v Melbourne match at the MCG back five minutes to 7.30pm. That accommodates a full 30-minute Channel Seven news bulletin which has been scheduled, but only if the Matildas’ match finishes in regular time.
On Thursday morning, network executives were still finalising plans in case the match goes to extra-time and penalties.
The decision by Channel Seven has been widely praised by football fans, but it is not unprecedented. Social media users noted AFL finals have shifted news bulletins, and a network representative said the Olympics have traditionally forced adjustments to news scheduling.
Veteran sports broadcaster Jim Wilson posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Channel Seven’s decision was a “total no-brainer”, but it has happened “plenty of times for big ticket sport events on FTA TV”.
The AFL is working on plans to show the Matildas game on the MCG’s big screen. The public areas open at 5.30pm, but would open 30 to 45 minutes earlier if granted approval to screen the match. The crowd is forecast to be more than 60,000.
Even if approval is not granted, MCC members can enter at 5pm and the match will be screened at members’ bars inside the stadium.
The SCG is allowing members and their guests to stay at the ground and watch the Matildas after the Sydney Swans’ clash with the Suns in the afternoon, with bars and food outlets to remain open.
Accor Stadium is also working on a solution to allow ticket-holders for the England v Colombia match later on Saturday to come to the ground early and watch the game on the screens inside the ground.
The NRLW’s schedule includes three matches on Saturday, all to finish before 5pm. These times have been in place since the start of the season.
The AFL and NRL are still holding matches that overlap with the Matildas’ match that will be broadcast on subscription provider Fox Sports. The Wests Tigers play the New Zealand Warriors in Hamilton, and the Adelaide Crows play the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, several kilometres from where the Australians will play at Suncorp Stadium.
Yesterday, Crows coach Matthew Nicks was asked about the clash.
“Hopefully that takes away from the crowd a little bit, because … if I could, I’d be watching the Matildas as well,” he said.
