The win over the Western Bulldogs, which was without an automotive sponsor after Mercedes-Benz pulled out for this year, was seen by just short of four million viewers nationally according to OzTam ratings reported by AdNews.
More than three million people in metro areas saw one of the best grand finals in recent years and more than 900,000 people in the regionals watched the game.
Exposure for Jaguar was seen by 66 per cent of people watching television on the night of the game.
Analysts say that the increased audience was due to the two Melbourne-based teams playing out-of-state in the west due to COVID arrangements and the fact the game was played in evening prime time rather than in the afternoon.
AdNews reported that the AFL Grand Final pulled in 1.34 million metro viewers aged 25-54, followed by the AFL Grand Final: Presentations which attracted 1.17 million metro viewers in that age group, and then the AFL Grand Final: On the Ground saw 980,000 metro viewers in the age group.
Jaguar had a great ride for the whole season with the Melbourne Demons winning the first nine matches, being beaten by just a point in the 10th match, then winning the next two games to win 12 out of the first 13 matches.
It also sailed home winning the final six games of the home-and-away season with all players displaying the Jaguar brand to prime TV and online audiences.
Jaguar, in a huge leap of faith, chose to back the Demons for the 2019 season after the club had finished in fifth place on the ladder in 2018. But in 2019 it languished in 17th place out of 18 teams.
Jaguar stuck with the team and last year Melbourne recovered to finish just outside the final eight in ninth place.
Other car sponsors also scored with bonus exposure by finishing in the final eight:
- Jaguar – Melbourne Demons
- MG – Port Adelaide
- Ford – Geelong Cats
- Hyundai – Brisbane Lions
- No car sponsor – Western Bulldogs
- Kia – Greater Western Sydney Giants
- Volkswagen – Sydney Swans
- No car sponsor – Essendon Bombers
In terms of exposure during the finals series, Volkswagen (Sydney) only got to play once before being eliminated. The Essendon Bombers (no auto sponsor) were also dispatched early.
Ford (Geelong Cats) played three finals games and Kia (GWS Giants), MG (Port Adelaide) and Hyundai (Brisbane) got to play two finals.
Melbourne, of course, played in three finals rounds.
Auto sponsor placings for the 2021 season are
First – Jaguar – Melbourne Demons
Second – No car sponsor – Western Bulldogs
Equal third – MG – Port Adelaide/Ford – Geelong Cats
Equal fifth – Hyundai – Brisbane Lions/Kia – Greater Western Sydney Giants
Equal seventh – Volkswagen – Sydney Swans/No car sponsor – Essendon Bombers
By John Mellor
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