Brisbane star Mitch Robinson and coach Chris Fagan celebrate the win over Richmond. Picture: AFL Photos

The AFL is pleased to announce last night’s qualifying final between Brisbane Lions and Richmond attracted a national average TV audience of 1.541m, outrating Thursday night’s opening qualifying final and all Finals in weeks 1 and 2 of 2019.

The total television audience was up 4% compared to last year’s Friday night week 1 Final (Geelong Cats V Collingwood).

The Brisbane average free-to-air (FTA) audience was 149,000 and the total Queensland market average FTA audience was 208,000 making the match the highest Brisbane and Queensland audience for a final (non-Grand Final) in the last 10 years.

Melbourne’s FTA audience was up 3% compared to last year’s Friday night week 1 Final.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:37

    McCarthy mystifies with insane GOTY contender

    Lincoln McCarthy wows the crowd with a moment of magic to put himself in contention for Goal of the Year

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  • 00:37

    Debutant bursts through to bag first AFL goal

    GWS first-gamer Darcy Jones earns his maiden major in the big league and celebrates with gusto

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  • 00:32

    Charlie dribbles home mega major against the grain

    Charlie Cameron kicks an impressive dribble goal from long range after much of the term had been controlled by the Giants

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  • 02:21

    Silence at Manuka Oval as the Last Post echoes around the ground

    Lest We Forget

    AFL
  • 13:57

    Full post-match, R7: Bombers

    Watch Essendon’s press conference after round seven’s match against Collingwood

    AFL
  • 01:54

    Captain Merrett claims Anzac Medal

    Essendon skipper Zach Merrett amasses 31 disposals in a tireless performance to take home his first Anzac Medal

    AFL
  • 08:12

    Full post-match, R7: Magpies

    Watch Collingwood’s press conference after round seven’s match against Essendon

    AFL
  • 06:48

    Highlights: Essendon v Collingwood

    The Bombers and Magpies clash in round seven

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  • 02:53

    Last two mins: Frantic final moments as Dons, Pies play out Anzac Day draw

    The thrilling final moments between Essendon and Collingwood in round seven

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  • 00:43

    Martin musters magic on his left as Dons hit front

    Nic Martin ventures forward and lands an outstanding snap under immense pressure

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  • 00:48

    Elliott’s extraordinary MOTY contender brings house down

    Jamie Elliott stuns the MCG with an enormous speccy over Ben McKay to put his hand up for Mark of the Year

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  • 00:42

    Pendles brings the heat as Daicos hits one sweet

    Scott Pendlebury lays a super tackle before Nick Daicos takes the advantage and nails a typical ripper

    AFL

The result comes on the back of the opening match of the 2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series, Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats, which attracted a total average TV audience of 1.537 million.

These huge viewing numbers come off the back of more than 77 million viewers tuning in to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

In an unprecedented year for football, the support and interest from fans in the broadcast of AFL games continues to be extremely strong.

At the conclusion of the home-and-away season, national television audiences were 14 per cent higher for average audience per game compared to the same time periods last year, confirming the high demand for football in 2020.

The hosting of matches in Queensland, combined with the success of the Brisbane Lions, has reflected a 32 per cent increase in Brisbane audiences. The AFL has provided much-needed entertainment to Victorians during a challenging year with audiences up 13 per cent on average and up 15 per cent in Melbourne. 

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