This is how Aussie rules footy impacts the property market

It’s hard to overstate how deeply Australian Rules Football is woven into the fabric of our cities and towns. For some, the AFL season marks time more clearly than the calendar itself; pre-season training, round one, mid-season byes, finals, and of course the Grand Final. But for those of us who study property markets, footy isn’t just a passion; it’s an influence we can’t ignore. The seasonal rythm of the game shapes listing and buying behaviour, and campaign activity.

Auction campaigns and fixture clashes

Ask any auctioneer, and they’ll tell you: scheduling around big games is critical. When Collingwood plays Carlton on a Saturday afternoon, inner-Melbourne suburbs can feel like ghost towns. Holding an open for inspection at 2pm on the same day will feel quiet. Many buyers, vendors, and even agents are glued to the game or at the ground. For this reason, many agents often adjust auction start times during the AFL season, moving to mornings or midweek evenings to avoid a clash.

Geelong is an interesting market to survey, also. If the Cats manage to land themselves in the finals, the property market and Spring season start is much like Melbourne’s. However, if Geelong misses out on the finals, the city’s Spring market surge of listings will precede Melbourne’s.

This weekend, not a single auction was scheduled on Grand Final day in Geelong. Not even early morning. We’re in the middle of Spring. Now, that’s saying something.

Seasonal slowdowns and the September effect

Every spring, Melbourne’s property market heats up alongside the weather. But finals footy can delay that spring surge. September is one of the most important months for property campaigns, yet it’s also dominated by finals fever. Many vendors hold off launching until after the Grand Final, knowing buyer attention is elsewhere.

This creates an interesting phenomenon: pent-up demand that explodes in early October, right after the premiership is decided and the school holidays conclude.

Buyer focus will shift back to property

The first two weekends after school holidays wrap up often see larger volumes and stronger clearance rates, as buyers press forward with purchase activity. Couples who have had football season disrupt their ability to make critical property decisions will redirect their focus to the task at hand, and buyer participation will increase.

This year, the sub-$950,000 market will be further fuelled by the government’s decision to bring forward the First Homebuyer Deposit Guarantee on 1st October. We anticipate the second half of Spring to be particularly lively this year.

The bigger picture

This year, we expect to see higher listing volumes from the second week of October and into November. Our last wave of listings will conclude in late November, neatly paved out for the Christmas finish line of Saturday 20th December.

Swerving around another sporting holiday, (the Melbourne Cup weekend), really only leaves us eleven remaining auction Saturdays before 2025 closes out for buyers and vendors.

The final run to Christmas is going to be heady, for sure.