NFL team’s Aussie ‘snub’ set to backfire ahead of historic game

The two NFL teams facing off in Melbourne on Friday morning have taken completely different approaches to the mammoth task of flying from the west coast of the United States to the other side of the planet for their week one clash.

The 49ers are already in Melbourne. They arrived on Friday morning and will spend the week acclimatising, taking in the city and mingling with locals in a bid to win over support.

The Rams, however, plan to fly in 24 hours before the game, landing on Thursday morning, before flying back out immediately after. They are hoping to avoid acclimatising and keep their body clock unchanged, as they fly in and fly out.

They took a similar approach to their game in London just last season. Of course, it's apples and oranges. Flying to Melbourne takes an extra five hours.

Two of the most well resourced sporting teams on the planet, with the maximum possible access to high-performance and medical data, are taking polar opposite approaches to the same problem.

Anyone who has made the flight from Australia to the US, or Europe, and back, knows just how brutal a toll it can take on your body in the immediate aftermath.

Rams coach Sean McVay, however, has refused to even reveal the thought behind their planning or itinerary as they prepare for the game.

“We're leaving later than most people would expect," he said recently, without elaborating.

General manager of the 49ers John Lynch said on American radio last month that their decision to come early was based on a group they had sent to Australia earlier in the year and their findings.

“I think the final straw was we sent an advanced group, and they all said for three days you feel out of whack,” Lynch said.

“You’re just not quite there. So it became clear to us in our mind that the best logistics for this trip was to put our players in the best position for success, not only down in Australia but for the rest of the year.”

However, it goes beyond just jet lag and high performance. Home crowd advantage and the noise produced by fans has an enormous impact on NFL games.

This Melbourne game is a Rams 'home' game. As part of the NFL's global marketing program, they are the team with primary access to Australia and have spent the last few years attempting to build their presence in the country.

Typically, the home team has a huge in-stadium advantage, with fans making deafening noise to make communication difficult for the travelling offence.

Los Angeles doesn't have the strongest home field advantage at the best of times, but American NFL analyst Dontay Atikinson believes LA's FIFO strategy has already backfired based on the 49ers' first few days in Melbourne.

"I hope (NFL commissioner Roger Goodell) appreciates that the 49ers are spending a full week at public events and interacting with locals in Melbourne, doing the NFL's ambassador work," Atkinson tweeted.

"The team does seem to be enjoying the people down there.

"The Rams are the 'home team' and the party responsible for requiring the 49ers to take the lengthy trip, and they've done exactly jack squat to sell the NFL brand or connect with Australians.

"Fly in, fly out, no contact. I'm sure the Aussies feel great about that snub. Fail. It's going to be heavily red in the stands again."

49ers fans have already been known to fill the stands for their annual road game in Los Angeles, but if Atkinson is right, they could have a significant advantage in the stands on Friday morning.

San Francisco players have been everywhere in their few days in Australia, attending the AFL finals, swapping jerseys with Melbourne Storm players and doing various media and public events.

The Rams, meanwhile, aren’t expected to do much of anything, after arriving on Thursday morning. They will put coach McVay up to media on Thursday evening, at this stage.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Which teams are playing in Melbourne?

The match is being played between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Division rivals in the NFC West and two genuine Super Bowl contenders.

Is this a real NFL game or just a practice match?

Yes, this is the real deal. The match is taking place in week one of the NFL season. This is not a pre-season or friendly game.

Where is the game taking place?

The match between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will take place in Melbourne, Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A crowd approaching 100,000 is expected for the game.

What time is kickoff?

The match gets underway on Friday, September 11 at 10:35am AEST.

10:05am ACST and 8:35am AWST.

Back in the US, the match is slated for the traditional Thursday Night Football slot.

Are tickets still available for the game?

Yes, tickets are still available for the game via re-sale through Ticketmaster. The cheapest ticket, however, will set you back $616.

A quality seat on the second level of the MCG would set you back as much as $935.

How can I watch the game?

You will be able to watch the game live on Channel Seven, as well as on Netflix. Australian radio station SEN will also be broadcasting the game.

Will there be a half-time show and if so, who is performing?

Yes, there will be a half-time show. The NFL loves to go big for international games, and the Melbourne game will be no different.

The Jonas Brothers will headline the half-time show, while the likes of Peking Duck, Sneaky Sound System, Kita Alexander, Hot Dub Time Machine, Grinspoon performing around Melbourne Park as well.

What are the betting odds for the game?

Los Angeles $1.53

San Francisco $2.66

Betting odds correct as of 4pm Sunday.

Who are the big-name players to know?

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is the reigning league MVP, while his top receivers, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are two of the best in the league.

Los Angeles also has two of the game's greatest defensive players in Myles Garrett, who they received in a trade from Cleveland over the off-season, and Aaron Donald, who has come out of retirement to play alongside him. Their job is to rush the quarterback and bring him down before he can throw the ball.

For the 49ers, their quarterback is Brock Purdy. Their running back, Christian McCaffrey, is one of the best in the league.

Will there be Tailgate opportunities around Melbourne?

Yes, the Rams plan to hold a Tailgate experience on Thursday at the Crown Riverwalk. They plan to host this from midday to 2pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This will feature live entertainment, food and festivities, including the Rams’ cheerleaders, a mariachi band and the Super Bowl LVI trophy. Entry is free and open to the public.

Is Travis Kelce coming to Melbourne?

No. He plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Is this a one-off game?

No, the NFL is expected to return to Melbourne again in 2027 and in 2028. They have stated their hope to play in Australia regularly beyond that, and potentially in other cities.

Where else is the NFL playing around the world?

Across the 2026-2027 season, the NFL will play international games in Australia, Brazil, England (three games), France, Spain, Germany and Mexico.

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