Australians love winners, so it’s unlikely Saturday’s match against Sweden will draw the record ratings we’ve seen during this World Cup.
There has been a lot of love for the Matildas in recent weeks. Their performance at the 2023 World Cup has been nothing short of miraculous.
But while Australia’s female soccer team has delivered record ratings for Channel 7 (Wednesday night’s match was watched by a recorded audience of 4.5 million in the 5 capital cities), don’t expect the love to continue.
For all the talk about this being a defining moment in women’s sport, the reality is Australians love winners.
Losers, not so much.
I know that sounds harsh and I genuinely hope there is residual love for our girls who have beaten the odds to come so far in this tournament.
But history would suggest that won’t be the case.
Will viewers continue to watch?
Saturday’s match is unlikely to break any records, in fact, I predict numbers will be much lower than what was recorded last night.
It’s the same when it comes to men’s sports.
The host broadcaster of the Australian Open always hopes an Aussie will make the finals as executives know that will lead to higher ratings.
No Aussies = lower ratings.
Fact.
Does anyone actually watch Rugby Union these days now that Australia is the 8th highest-ranking team (after a low of 9th last year)?
Only the die-hard fans.
You might argue that this is a different scenario – thanks to the outpouring of support for the Matildas.
I’d like to think so, but I don’t believe it will happen.
Record ratings thanks to non-spot lovers
The additional support from women and kids (who don’t traditionally watch male-skewing sports) has helped drive these record ratings.
But will they stay with the game now?
Some will, to be sure, but most will go back to their normal lives after being caught up in the hysteria of being able to support a winning team in a sport we traditionally struggle in.
As a nation, we know we are competitive in swimming globally, and we do very well against other Commonwealth countries.
So, it makes sense our national has gotten behind a winning team on a global stage in a sport most of us played as kids but have long since moved on from.
But that’s where it ends.
Unless the Matildas continue to kick goals (pun intended), then support will slowly evaporate and the hysteria of the 2023 World Cup will be a moment in time that didn’t last the distance.
Hopefully, I’m wrong, but history would suggest I’m not.
Oh Hell No!!!! We’ve got to watch them beat Sweden for 3rd place on Saturday!!!!
👩🇦🇺⚽️🥉🙌🏻😜👍🏻👍🏻
Yes
No way
Hell no, we love them
Of course not ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🥰🥰
No Way, They are still chamions
We are such a tall poppy syndrome
Society
Put people up on a pedestal. If they don’t do what you want. Cut them
Down. Pathetic. Such a tall poppy syndrome society we are
They deserve much greater funding now
Craig Murray the Matilda’s do deserve more support.
I’d offer it isn’t tall poppy syndrome at play; rather, it’s the Australian public being fair weather supporters. We’re behind you when you’re winning, and we’ll abandon you once you start losing/stop winning.
Just ask the Wallabies.
Steve Molkentin fair call. As you say they deserve more support
Definitely not
Un Aistralian to that,wont happen
Chris Kokotis Where is Aistraia, cant find it on the globe
Toni Murphy
Chris KokotisSo is dobbing but it never stops majority
Viewers won’t abandon the Matilda’s but after World Cup there really is nothing of this standard of soccer in Australia until once again the Matilda’s are once again performing as a National team 🤔
No
A lot probably will go.But a bloody huge amount will stay.
No way
They are still winners
No
Don’t like them to begin with
Yep, Only popular this time, because it was here, next time it will revert back to be a dud?
Not a chance, they have inspired a Nation.
Even my wife was screaming Go the girls and she hates soccer NOT ANY MORE.
No , will watch every game on TV , hopefully they can beat Sweden Gooo Tilly’s
Australians love Matildas.
I do t think so
NEVER YOU HAVE FOUGHT YOUR BATTLE WELL …. CARRY ON THE WORLD IS NOT YET ENDED
Hope not.
What a STUPID comment. They were brilliant.
Fickle people.x⚽️⚽️
I hope not they deserve to be applauded
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No.
Never
NO why would we they made us proud 😊
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No way
Of course they will… How they manage the teams profile after the event will be critical
No
Win or lose they did us proud I for one will 100% support them no matter what happens.
No we will win 3 place go Matildas
Never watch them waste of TV time
Not bloody likely
Hopefully not
All the Matildas have husbands and why do we not ever see them and have their views heard? Or to we when we play men’s sports transform into something else and that is not mentioned? I wonder why.
Susan West no, they don’t all have husbands.
And like sportsmen, why do we need to hear from their partners? 🤷♂️
I would hope not.
No way thanks 🙏🏻
I hope not .
Always loved the tillies
ready to watch them play tonight all the best
Not a hope in hell
No .
If anyone abandons them just because they lost to England they are not real supporters
Go girls,go
Nothing else on tele might as well watch them.
no way
Definitely not!
I’ll be watching for sure ⚽️⚽️
No way.
I haven’t watched any of the games .
I’ll be watching thenb the Swans!!
Nasty negative comment, why?
Look I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but really what a stupid thing to say!! I think the Aussies will stand by their team. I’m a kiwi and I will stand by them. They’ve done really well. Get behind them tonight Australia!!
No way 😎
All ready wine in hand just waiting
Sport is not everyone’s cup of tea. I hope to hell there is something other than sport on tonight.
Colette Williamson Albanese might be on, giving us a Voice choice. I’ll take sport or cooking classes ……!
That would be time to turn everything off and read a good book
What is wrong with you idiots?
Go away! Troll!!
Abandon! No way! They did an amazing job – excellent skills and result and now Australia is very well respected in this sport.
Graham Tamblyn good on you. We don’t throw away a team or a person if the always cone first. Hi Ellie. Show them 👿
Yeah I’ll be watching but It won’t b the same . in 3 months no one will know or care who come second or third 🥲
Boo to TV Black Box👎causing backlash again
Go Sweden 🇸🇪
Go Sweden 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪
Hell no !!!go Matildas ⚽️⚽️🦾🦾
Don’t really think so, the game is being played in Australia.
I hope not, really looking forward to tonight , hope they get bronze. Never watched any soccer match before, I am now a huge supporter of our amazing Aussies
” Go Matildas’ 👏👏👏👏
No the nation will be watching we have your back you go girls🫶🫶🌟🌟
Definitely not!
No
lol Im sure people will watch the last game and then you wont hear about them for another 4 years.Its whay they do here
Of course not
No! I’m in hospital, and will possibly be told I have the tv up too loud 🥴🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺⚽️⚽️⚽️🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
No we follow them to the end
The Tillies did a fantastic job. The Ref needs glasses
No way all the way with them so proud
Why should we
No way
Who cares
Not everyone watches Soccer
Haven’t watched a game
Not interested
no way, I’m watching the game tonight
Never,♥️👍
Nope go girls
No…..
Are you joking ? 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺⚽️❤️
Proud of all of them, and they should be proud of what they’ve achieved, it’s fantastic.
I can’t understand people why write something like that opinion 😡
No
I won’t,
Totally outplayed tonight the Swedish babes way too good
NO.
Not at all. A joy to watch them…win or lose,
You have done your country proud, thank you.❤️
Gail Susanne Blackmoreso you will get up at 3am in winter to watch them play Bahrain or some other minnow in a different country
I doubt it
Dead horse, move along. Nothing to see here!!
No you have convince them that they are fantastic even though they have been ordinary
⚽️💗 💪🏻
God you ask some dumb questions 🙄. Just trying to create negative vibes. Shame in you
No
No give it a week or two before people say Matildas who
What a stupid question as if they were never supporting them if they can walk away ……
No
Not the same crowd at crown casino. Very little support.
Yeh i watched netflix
They should be called the mardigras
many will. i won’t because i never gave a flying f about soccer.
Of course they will. The figures will drop. Tournament figures are always higher.
Yes will be forgotten in a week the Matilda’s hype train has left the station
Damien Anderson it’s really a stupid question. Of course the hype will drop. The question should be, will women’s sports grow because of the Matildas?
Laurie Warner no simple answer
No, many will watch the play off for 3rd, and then after that no will watch them except the relatively small number of die hard true fans….
Why should they, they are still one of the top 4 in the world
After last night’s performance, yeah I think many will.
David Hales .. rubbish David. You might ( jealous male) but Australia won’t.. we love the Matildas . 10th in the world to 4th in the world is a magnificent achievement. We will not abandon our Matildas.
Isabel Cufley just facts. They could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.. I am proud of them also, to an extent. But they should’ve done better. And also, maybe they were given ‘too’ much support from the public. If it wasn’t for that, it may have been a different scenario.
No no no.
Looks more team left themselves in the cold
def. not….they are an inspiration to the younger generations to come….
Oh yeh done with them.,
Absolutely not. I thought they did a great job and am interested in watching them if we can see the team in America. Do not care for our team or players.
Yes no further interest
Brian Flack … that’s you Brian (fickle and male).👺
If they are really true supporters they will support their national team….they have got this far and respect is deserved …don’t look to blame just support and those who don’t they are the poor losers …
Definitely not I was at suncorp on the pitch last night and there was more people going for the matildas then the Swedish
No, I really really hope not, get behind any Australian sport.
Who?
What does that even mean?
No
Yes until next world cup maybe
Shane Hall .. no we won’t be abandoning out Magnificent Matildas.. ⚽️👏👏👏
That’s a given. Only the naive would believe otherwise.
Absolutely not. Australia will NEVER abandon them.
We will follow and support our Matilda’s every game (and them)
❤️⚽️❤️⚽️❤️⚽️
Absolutely not
No
Yes
The Premier leagues back on 😂
Nope. Still came 4th, and still got a huge following of new and especially young fans. The biggest challenge is the networks not playing their games and access for fans, especially the young ones.