It’s Ladbrokes newest series – What Are The Odds? An age old question every punter finds themselves asking not just on sports and racing, but everyday life. What are the odds I’ll die crossing the road? What are the odds I’ll catch the footy at the game tonight? What are the odds I’ll spot a drunken sports star out post-game? What are the odds I’ll get bitten by a shark?
Each week we pick a scenario, ask Dr Internet, put it to the bookies and find out exactly What Are The Odds?!
The Scenario
You’re at the football and anything can happen. Your team can win at big odds. You can back first try-scorer and clean-up. You can end up seated beside an old mate by chance. But what are the odds you’ll see a streaker?
Streaking and getting your kit off in front of a massive stadium of fans doesn’t appeal to us, but there’s plenty of examples throughout sporting history of these mad fans doing just that.
In major sporting events the first serious case of streaking was Michael O’Brien on April 20, 1974, in a Wallabies vs England clash at Wickenham. He was a 25-year-old Aussie doing the green-and-gold proud! Best bit? It was all for a bet!
There’s been examples of streaking during games of cricket, rounds of golf, on the ice in hockey in the AFL, NRL and even snooker.
Why they do it is a question best left to the shrinks, but it is worth stripping back the history and facts to work out if you’re safe from an eye-shot before you head to your next game.
These days the odds of having your trip to a game of footy in Australia visited by a streaker, especially considering the beefed-up security and whole nanny-state affair of things down under now, are less likely.
Both the AFL Grand Final and NRL Grand Final are fast approaching on the first weekend of October, so we ask the question “What Are The Odds” of seeing a streaker at the footy deciders?
AFL & NRL Streaking History
It’s true, more security means we see less sports streaking in Australia these days than in the free-spirited early days. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen however.
In the NRL one of the headline cases was back in 2007 when a Brisbane Broncos’ fan took his lid off and stormed out onto the field at Olympic Park in a game against Melbourne. Four years later at Sydney Football Stadium the NRL had another major streaking incident when on September 16, 2011, security apprehended a man during the finals match between Tigers and New Zealand.
Earlier this year a NRL Friday Night Footy clash between the Roosters and South Sydney was interrupted in the 67th minute by a streaker at ANZ Stadium who jumped the fence, bombarded onto the field and took more catching than an on-form winger.
In 2014 there was a streaker at the WCE vs Collingwood AFL match, but the “golden days” of Aussie Rules Footy streaking were definitely the 1980s. Adelaide stripper Helen D’Amico started the trend in the ’82 VFL Grand Final between Carlton and Richmond donning only a Carlton scarf giving the 107,000 plus crowd more (or less) than they paid to see.
State Of Origin footy isn’t exempt from a bit of nudity either. The dying minutes of the 2013 QLD vs NSW decider featured Wati Holmwood naked on the field and the Maroons’ fans were not impressed, his intrusion costing him thousands in fines plus jail time, and possibly a try for the Canetoads.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZkwuJG2xCMk
Streaker Facts
- There’s only one known “professional” streaker called Mark Roberts who’s been at it for over two decades and once sponsored by an online casino! He’s a Brit though and so odds are he won’t be travelling down under to do it.
- With hefty fines, jail times and life bans from stadiums waiting for public streakers the cost is much higher now meaning less lads (and ladies!) a few brews in are likely to take up a dare-and-dash now.
- It’s not just the cost of post-streak scaring the would-be nudists away. These days the price of beer is crazy. In the 1980s a pot of beer cost around $1.50. Now? $5. So say it took 10 beers to work up the courage to streak. In the ‘80s it would cost $15. Now? $50!
- Streakers doing it for a cause or to bring attention to a big audience are more likely to crash a red carpet event than the footy.
- Stadium security is at an all-time high.
- 1982 was the last time an Aussie Rules Grand Final saw a streaker.
- No Rugby League Grand Final in Australia has been marred by a streaker in modern history.
The Maths
NRL Grand Final Streaker
Including the full regular season draw, NRL Finals, NRL Grand Final, the three State of Origin games, City vs Country, and the Kangas vs Kiwis (but excluding other Test footy) there are 206 NRL games played during the 2016 season.
From the above we gather, on average, a major steaking incident occurs every three years in the Rugby League.
The rough maths on that?
3 years x 206 games = 618
We’ve already had a streaker this year however, so the odds of it happening again in the NRL Grand Final are blown out further!
AFL Grand Final Streaker
In the AFL season for 2016 there are 207 total games. As we’ve discovered, apparently Aussie Rules footy fans these days are a bit tamer than their NRL counterparts and we average out only one steaking incident every 7 years.
7 years x 207 games = 1449
But, the fact it’s been a while between a notable AFL streaker and that there’s been one in an Aussie Rules Grand Final before has us firming the odds on it happening this season!
What Are The Odds Of A Grand Final Streaker?
It was a hot pot for streaking in the (then) VFL back in the 1980s, but things have shrivelled up when it comes to AFL streaking.
Rugby League fans however seem unable to keep their gear covered and there’s been yearly streaking incidents in the NRL, so the odds on it happening in this footy code than Aussie Rules are shorter.
The security measures make it tough, but it was only in 2013 a State of Origin match was ruined by a wobbling Wati so it can be done.
The odds of seeing a UFO today are roughly one in 3 million, so you’re far more likely to spot a streaker than an alien object at the footy!
AFL Grand Final: $800
NRL Grand Final: $700