The Footy Show topped the ratings last night as more than half a million Melbourne viewers tuned into Nine’s coverage ahead of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final clash.

Footy was top of mind across Australia for television viewers last night but especially in Melbourne where 557,000 people tuned in to the AFL Grand Final coverage.

Just 275,000 Sydney viewers tuned in and only 119,000 people in Perth, despite Freo making their first Grand Final appearance against Hawthorn on Saturday.

Different versions of The Footy Show were broadcast in different cities; for example at 8.30pm Melbournites and those in Perth were served the Grand Final special edition while Sydney viewers were given all things Rugby League with the ALF edition not broadcast until 10.30pm.

Nine can thank AFL mad Melbourne for handing them a victory over Seven, as the promise of AFL analysis saw every top 20 Nine program win more viewers in Melbourne than in any of the other four metro markets.

The Footy Show propelled Nine to win a total 35.2% share of all free-to-air viewers ahead of Seven’s 25.8%.

Nine’s main channel won 28.1% of FTA viewers, Seven took 18.1%.

The ABC had seven top 20 programs including Upper Middle Bogan (673,000) and Clarke and Dawe (611,000). The ABC took a combined 17.7% share of FTA viewers with 11.9% of that going to ABC1.

Ten sat on a total share of 15.3% with 10.3% going to its primary channel. Ten’s best rating program was Ten Eyewitness News (574,000) and The Project (529,000).