The 2005 edition of the Sweeney Sports Report shows that Rules reached a new peak in popularity during winter 2005 with six out of every 10 adult Australians taking an interest in it.
The result was six percentage points greater than in winter 2004.
The report follows the recent A$780million deal by television channels Seven and Ten for the 2007-11 AFL telecast rights.
The channels are taking over coverage of a sport which more than five of every 10 adult Australians watched on television during winter 2005, a record for the sport following a six percentage point rise from winter 2004.
Australian Rules has displaced swimming from top spot, which had been number one in terms of interest for the past three years.
It also stretched its lead over the other two ‘big four’ sports, tennis and cricket.
Swimming and tennis were equal second favourite sports, each having a following among 56 per cent of people. They are the two sports with the greatest participation rates.
Cricket gained followers during the winter, no doubt because of the best-contested Ashes series for many years.
Rugby union for the first time in a winter period slipped slightly in its challenge for supremacy over rugby league, perhaps a reflection of weaker performances internationally.
