Australian Football Association of North America

AFANA has been having a tough time getting information on what TSN / TSN2 / TSN.ca will have available each week in time to post it here.  We received the information for this past weekend overnight Thursday night resulting in at least one of the matches going to air before we could even post it.  We will keep working on the issue so that the last 2 weeks of the 2009 season are posted more quickly.

In fact, TSN is providing the Collingwood v Adelaide match on demand on TSN.ca this weekend and the Western Bulldogs v Brisbane match was provided on a delayed basis at 03:00 EDT on Saturday.  It's just too bad we weren't informed in time to provide this to fans so they could take advantage of it.

As to the general issue of how TSN is doing, opinions seem to vary.  We have received some very good reports and others such as yours.  See our article on the new coverage and the comment thread there on TSN.   Fox.com.au is not going to provide you with anything, as they do not have rights to do so.  The AFL is working with TSN to see that TSN.ca provides similar offerings as ESPN360 but obviously giving fans sufficient notice is a big issue.  AFANA is making the AFL aware of the complaints not that this is much solace.  The problem though is at TSN right now not the AFL. 

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

Hi Brendan,

Since you don't mention which of the four networks you are referring to, I will assume it is Setanta US or Setanta Canada. 

I can understand that you want to see two teams that are fighting for the top end of the ladder.  However, that is not the only criteria used in selecting the matches we see. 

Based on my conversions with Setanta and 14 years of following the networks who have broadcast footy, here is a primer on match selection  (you can also read this topic discussed in our TV FAQ) [not necessarily in order]:

1) available time slot.  Since Setanta takes live coverage, they have to find 2 or more matches a week that don't conflict with the other live sports they cover.
2) the need to show all 16 AFL teams at least a couple of times per season.   AFANA has polled fans of footy every 3 years since 1996 (the next poll is up this summer).  The results show that all 16 AFL clubs have significant followings among American and Canadian fans.   That means that Richmond and Melbourne fans want to see their club, too, this year.  Neither club is likely to be in the top 8 at any time in 2009. 
3) blockbuster, traditional, and key matches during the year.  For example, Collingwood v Carlton, ANZAC Day, matches that determine who gets in the final 8 at the end of the season, etc.
4) availability of the feed from the networks in Australia.  Sometimes, for technical reasons or availability of fiber capacity, a desired match cannot be fed to us live.   This doesn't happen often but it has happened.
5) whims of the scheduler who may or may not know what fans want (and may not ask AFANA either).
6) a change in the standings from the time the match was chosen until it is aired.   For example, Essendon was not in the top 4 two weeks ago.  So, it would have been a brilliant tipping move to select Geelong v Essendon in early May knowing it would be a 2 v 4 matchup.
7) the vagaries of the AFL schedule.  For example, some clubs want to play mostly on Friday night (e.g. Collingwood); others seem to get an excess of Sunday afternoons (e.g. the Perth clubs).  The result is that we see some too often and others not often enough based on the time slots available here.

AFANA makes it a point to let Setanta and the AFL know which matches fans want to see.  Ideally, we'd get all 8 live.  However, we are currently getting 2 per week live and that may be the limit this season until finals.  Also, given Setanta's precarious financial condition we may not get even this much next year. 

From 1995 to 2006 AFANA worked diligently, with the support of many fans like yourself, to get live coverage.  It was a long and sometimes frustrating struggle.  Short of "on-demand" live coverage on a personal basis for every fan, there will always be some fan or some club left out.  I am thankful we have live coverage and hope Setanta continues in 2010.  We'll keep working to make it better so you can see the match you want.

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

Thanks for the change Setanta. Hawks v Blues. What a game!

Dear Chicagocat:

If you read the schedule you will note the following code in on entries for each match of the Preliminary Finals:  #

And if you follow that to the notes at the bottom of the section you are looking at you will see this:

# Schedule expected to change as matches are Friday and Saturday "night" matches in Australia.

Pretty obvious, isn'it?  We publish the schedule as Setanta (or whatever network has coverage for that week and that year) provides it.  When it appears to us to be obviously wrong or likely to be changed, we so note it.  Always.  Every week for 13 years... 

-Rob
AFANA Chairman and Site Admin