AFL Side Sydney Swans Request Fewer Home Night Games

Australian Football League side Sydney Swans asked the AFL to "give them fewer home games at night next season so they can have more family-friendly fixtures," according to Andrew Wu of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The Swans will play nine night games at the SCG this season after the round 23 clash with Hawthorn "was scheduled to be played under lights against their wishes." While most clubs "would love to have so much exposure in prime time" for TV, Sydney is "conscious of ensuring more children" can attend its games, "which is difficult at night." The Swans see a 7-4 divide between night and day games as "the right balance to give their commercial partners exposure to a national TV audience while also allowing families to attend games." Swans CEO Andrew Ireland said, "We've had those discussions with the AFL, the AFL are certainly conscious of a need to have a more balanced fixture for us. To be frank, Channel Seven has first right to pick Friday, Saturday night games" (SMH, 8/16).