Saturday night TV ratings have shown an AFLW match between Carlton and Brisbane drew a larger audience than the third AFLX final.
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According to Mediaweek, 81,000 tuned in to see the Lions beat the Blues 40-18 in the AFLW while only 70,000 watched the earlier AFLX final between Brisbane and Sydney.
Both games were shown on Fox Sports with the resulting audiences a further indication of the growing popularity of women's sport in Australia and the poor reception AFLX has received.
#TVratings Saturday STV #AFLW #FoxFooty#AFLWBluesLions 81k pic.twitter.com/ugqErLABZm
— Mediaweek (@MediaweekAUS) February 18, 2018
#TVratings Saturday STV #AFLX #FoxFooty
— Mediaweek (@MediaweekAUS) February 18, 2018
70k pic.twitter.com/fRfHYKh3Sx
Poor crowds and a general lack of enthusiasm from fans have been a prominent part of the AFLX's first iteration with Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane winning their respective grand finals.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has been a big advocate of the venture and held a meeting to discuss ways to alter the format moving forward.