2025 Attendances

[The_Wookie]

11.12.2024

Gather Round tickets snapped up in record time


The AFL is pleased to announce that more than 195,000 Gather Round…Festival of Footy tickets have sold… with five of the nine games sold out, 20,000 more than this time last year.

Member on sale on Tuesday saw a significant uplift in demand for tickets this year, selling more than 100,000 tickets in the first four hours, in comparison to the same amount in 24 hours last year.

This year there are an extra 47,000 tickets on offer for fans with the two Saturday matches being ticketed separately.

Tickets still remain for Collingwood vs Sydney Swans on Friday night, Carlton vs West Coast on Saturday afternoon, Melbourne vs Essendon on Saturday night and a very limited number of restricted view tickets and tickets for the Pepsi Collective for Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn on Sunday evening.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said it was clear Gather Round momentum was not slowly down.

“The demand for tickets this year was significantly higher than the first two Gather Rounds, with more than 195,000 tickets being purchased in the first two days,” said Mr Dillon.

“A ticket to the matches at the Barossa Park was always going to be one of the hottest tickets in town and the fans have certainly illustrated that by selling out both matches so quickly.”

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said: “Gather Round continues to exceed all expectations.

“We are honoured that so many footy fans from around the country are making the commitment to travel to our beautiful state to experience this event like no other.

“They’ll be truly welcome.

“If you haven’t got a ticket already – get in quick!”

Tickets for the remaining matches can be found here.

 

[Bjo187]

Just like the giants game it’s disappointing Storm can’t sell this out as they’ve sold out numerous home and away games this year (unlike the giants), but it’s not unexpected. It’s not the same situation as giants, it’s not an elimination final, they’ll be playing in Melbourne again next week or two, and there is an afl finals game on at the same time so any of the more casual fans that follow both sports might want to watch that instead. Historically when Storm are up against an afl final in week 1 crowds drop.

Also making this a Friday night game makes it much harder for bulldogs fans to travel to.

Their next final game whether next week or preliminary final will certainly sell out.

So you're saying an elimination final is bigger than a top 4 final?

Also the swans and lions games have often clashed with big nrl games, but still sellout no issues, sounds a lame excuse to me.

 

[Cmarsh]

Not great weather predicted next weekend for the two Melbourne prelims.

 

[Rabman]

52,005 at Adelaide Oval

 

[Rouel_14]

Definitely not.
Travelling for a finals is one of those magic footy experiences. Each team should have equal access to tickets. Finals were always neutral until the AFL added interstate teams. As they are in all suburban footy leagues. The advantage comes from not having to travel, not the crowd, which can affect umpiring decisions.

Mm. Not sure I agree. It’s called a home final for a reason, especially when it’s not even a home final - it’s a home state final.

If Saints so happened to finish 5th and played an 8th placed Richmond, Carlton etc at their home ground - surely their members should get first right.

With so much inequity in the fixture and finals venues finishing higher should mean something.

 

[manicmagpie]

Finals are meant to be neutral games. You finish higher you get to have the game in your home state, and that’s it.

Both sets of fans should get equal access to tickets.

 

[____]

Finals are meant to be neutral games. You finish higher you get to have the game in your home state, and that’s it.

Both sets of fans should get equal access to tickets.

I agree that both sets of fans should get equal access to tickets. But Geelong should be allowed to play the first two weeks of home finals at Kardinia Park, likewise Dogs, Saints and North at Docklands.

Prelims should be at bigger venues though. Get rid of the week off before finals and having the week off is the advantage.

 

[The Educator]

I agree that both sets of fans should get equal access to tickets. But Geelong should be allowed to play the first two weeks of home finals at Kardinia Park, likewise Dogs, Saints and North at Docklands.

Prelims should be at bigger venues though. Get rid of the week off before finals and having the week off is the advantage.

Why should they? Why is the preliminary final different to the previous finals?

There is no actual logic to this. The VFL never had home finals in 130 years. 100 years ago this year Geelong finished top and played their first final against Melbourne at the MCG

AFL Tables - 1925 Season Scores

afltables.com

The NRL does it like that to save itself the embarrassment of empty stadiums in the earlier finals.

 

[Hawkk]

hampton I see the storm haven't yet sold out tonight's final against the biggest club from Sydney in the bulldogs. And there's not even any AFL on in Melbourne this weekend, every category still looks available. Are you on league unlimited deriding them like you were the giants on here last week or conveniently giving them a free pass?

Pretty surprised this game didn’t sell out given the Storm averaged 23,945 across their 12 home games — which is very good. That said, NRL fans don’t travel like Aussie Rules fans.

Mm. Not sure I agree. It’s called a home final for a reason, especially when it’s not even a home final - it’s a home state final.

If Saints so happened to finish 5th and played an 8th placed Richmond, Carlton etc at their home ground - surely their members should get first right.

With so much inequity in the fixture and finals venues finishing higher should mean something.

Just ask the Dogs fans about last year EF because this is exactly what happened to them. Made worst by playing that final at a ground they only played two games at.

Why should they? Why is the preliminary final different to the previous finals?

There is no actual logic to this. The VFL never had home finals in 130 years. 100 years ago this year Geelong finished top and played their first final against Melbourne at the MCG

AFL Tables - 1925 Season Scores

afltables.com

The NRL does it like that to save itself the embarrassment of empty stadiums in the earlier finals.

The worst was when the Cats ‘hosted’ home finals at Waverley Park, which would literally take 3 hours to get too from Geelong via car or bus.

1995 PF Geelong v Richmond 70,321
1991 EF Geelong v St Kilda 63,796
1991 PF Geelong v West Coast 47,638
1989 PF Geelong v Essendon 67,892
1981 SF Geelong v Carlton 66,078
1981 PF Geelong v Collingwood 69,058

 

[Rouel_14]

Finals are meant to be neutral games. You finish higher you get to have the game in your home state, and that’s it.

Both sets of fans should get equal access to tickets.

Nothing about finals game should be neutral. If should be the biggest and most intimidating home crowd you can get.

Should be:
A -home club member access
B -away Club member access
C -general public access

Our fixture is so compromised in integrity that at least there needs to be some benefit to finishing higher. Geelong members should 100% get first dibs at tickets to next weeks prelim. Any left over to hawks. Any left over to the public.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Our fixture is so compromised in integrity that at least there needs to be some benefit to finishing higher.

How can you not see the contradiction of that statement.

 

[manicmagpie]

How can you not see the contradiction of that statement.

Absolutely. Geelong got an easy ride compared to the other finalists and Brisbane copped the hardest draw, so Geelong should get even more advantages in the finals because of this? Makes no sense.

 

[manicmagpie]

1981 PF Geelong v Collingwood 69,058

So difficult for Geelong to get to one of their own players missed the bus and didn’t play!

 

[Rouel_14]

How can you not see the contradiction of that statement.

I get it.

Hell if I had it my way - everyone would play everyone once a year + one gather round pulled out of a hat. If you really need more games have a 2nd gather round. A rivalry round really starts to loose the integrity. Reverse it the following year.

Have wildcard weekend to find another week in the season of 7 V 10 and 8 V 9.

Every club can play their home games and finals where ever they want to be. Hell there is even a case to play the GF at the highest ranked competing teams venue.

A complete fantasy wonderland, but at least there would be some integrity.

 

[Hawkk]

I get it.

Hell if I had it my way - everyone would play everyone once a year + one gather round pulled out of a hat. If you really need more games have a 2nd gather round. A rivalry round really starts to loose the integrity. Reverse it the following year.

Have wildcard weekend to find another week in the season of 7 V 10 and 8 V 9.

Every club can play their home games and finals where ever they want to be. Hell there is even a case to play the GF at the highest ranked competing teams venue.

A complete fantasy wonderland, but at least there would be some integrity.

The wildcard thing is absolute rubbish.

The post season bye has breathed life into the Semi Final weekend, which for about 15 years was an awful round of football. See some of the terrible crowds that used to go to those games:

2000 NM v Hawthorn - 50,027
2000 Carlton v Brisbane - 56,027
2001 Port Adelaide v Hawthorn - 30,613
2002 Port Adelaide v Essendon - 27,661
2003 Port Adelaide v Essendon - 36,557
2004 St Kilda v Sydney - 50,671
2004 Geelong v Essendon - 53,667

By about 2008 those Semi Finals starting drawing some embarrassing finals crowds…

2008 W Bulldogs v Sydney - 42,977
2009 W Bulldogs v Brisbane - 47,030
2009 Collingwood v Adelaide - 62,824
2010 Geelong v Fremantle - 45,056
2010 W Bulldogs v Sydney - 39,526
2011 Hawthorn v Sydney - 55,198
2013 Geelong v Port Adelaide - 52,927

Those were cut throat finals drawing home and away standard crowds — and because of the way ticketing works in the finals any crowd under about 70,000 looks embarrassing in the finals. What this will do is make winning the flag from outside the top 6 impossible, meaning at least one or perhaps two rounds of dead rubbers.

The ideal situation is a top 8 in a 20 round season which is basically an expansion of the final 5 the VFL had from 1972 to 1986 (the golden era of finals)

 

[deck]

from 1972 to 1986

1990. Top 6 started in 91.

 

[Hawkk]

1990. Top 6 started in 91.

True. I meant 5 finalists from 12 teams was the perfect balance

Obviously it’s also a different finals system.

 

[Walshawk]

Pretty surprised this game didn’t sell out given the Storm averaged 23,945 across their 12 home games — which is very good. That said, NRL fans don’t travel like Aussie Rules fans.



Just ask the Dogs fans about last year EF because this is exactly what happened to them. Made worst by playing that final at a ground they only played two games at.



The worst was when the Cats ‘hosted’ home finals at Waverley Park, which would literally take 3 hours to get too from Geelong via car or bus.

1995 PF Geelong v Richmond 70,321
1991 EF Geelong v St Kilda 63,796
1991 PF Geelong v West Coast 47,638
1989 PF Geelong v Essendon 67,892
1981 SF Geelong v Carlton 66,078
1981 PF Geelong v Collingwood 69,058

No teams ‘hosted’ finals until 1991 when West Coast hosted Hawthorn. Games were truly neutral. For example, until 1987 any games featuring Dees or Tigers had to be played at Waverley rather than MCG so there was no advantage, even if they were the higher finishing team.

 

[shammersting]

The wildcard thing is absolute rubbish.

The post season bye has breathed life into the Semi Final weekend, which for about 15 years was an awful round of football. See some of the terrible crowds that used to go to those games:

2000 NM v Hawthorn - 50,027
2000 Carlton v Brisbane - 56,027
2001 Port Adelaide v Hawthorn - 30,613
2002 Port Adelaide v Essendon - 27,661
2003 Port Adelaide v Essendon - 36,557
2004 St Kilda v Sydney - 50,671
2004 Geelong v Essendon - 53,667

By about 2008 those Semi Finals starting drawing some embarrassing finals crowds…

2008 W Bulldogs v Sydney - 42,977
2009 W Bulldogs v Brisbane - 47,030
2009 Collingwood v Adelaide - 62,824
2010 Geelong v Fremantle - 45,056
2010 W Bulldogs v Sydney - 39,526
2011 Hawthorn v Sydney - 55,198
2013 Geelong v Port Adelaide - 52,927

Those were cut throat finals drawing home and away standard crowds — and because of the way ticketing works in the finals any crowd under about 70,000 looks embarrassing in the finals. What this will do is make winning the flag from outside the top 6 impossible, meaning at least one or perhaps two rounds of dead rubbers.

The ideal situation is a top 8 in a 20 round season which is basically an expansion of the final 5 the VFL had from 1972 to 1986 (the golden era of finals)

Agree 100%. 5 weeks is too long for a finals series, it will lose its lustre. (Semi final week in particular I reckon). They can say all they want that wildcard is seperate but it will be part of it. If they’re desperate for 10 teams (when comp expands)then finals will need to be sudden death to keep it at 4 weeks…

 

[manicmagpie]

For example, until 1987 any games featuring Dees or Tigers had to be played at Waverley rather than MCG so there was no advantage, even if they were the higher finishing team.

This is completely untrue. Richmond had many finals at the MCG between the opening of Waverley in 1970 until 1987.

Melbourne didn't have any at the MCG in that period as they literally didn't make the finals after 1964 until 1987.

 

[Bjo187]

Agree 100%. 5 weeks is too long for a finals series, it will lose its lustre. (Semi final week in particular I reckon). They can say all they want that wildcard is seperate but it will be part of it. If they’re desperate for 10 teams (when comp expands)then finals will need to be sudden death to keep it at 4 weeks…

I think wildcard will still seem separate coz the significant majority of finals teams won't be playing. I'd do the wildcard games on Thurs and Fri, then play the legends game on the Saturday night, it creates that bit of separation before the real finals start.

 

[Hawkk]

No teams ‘hosted’ finals until 1991 when West Coast hosted Hawthorn. Games were truly neutral. For example, until 1987 any games featuring Dees or Tigers had to be played at Waverley rather than MCG so there was no advantage, even if they were the higher finishing team.

Are you sure that was a thing? Richmond played 3 finals in 1973 and the 1975 SF at the MCG. They did play the finals thereafter at VFL Park though. Melbourne obviously played their 1987 EF and SF at the MCG.

 

[Hawkk]

This is completely untrue. Richmond had many finals at the MCG between the opening of Waverley in 1970 until 1987.

Melbourne didn't have any at the MCG in that period as they literally didn't make the finals after 1964 until 1987.

That’s what I thought. From what I understand there was no preference for VFL Park over the MCG. VFL Park typically had the bigger finals…

 

[manicmagpie]

That’s what I thought. From what I understand there was no preference for VFL Park over the MCG. VFL Park typically had the bigger finals…

The VFL really tried to push the big games and finals to VFL Park until they brokered the agreement with the government and the MCG to rebuild the Southern Stand and shift focus back to the G.

Under the final 5 system it was:

Elimination Final: almost always at Waverley
Qualifying Final: almost always at the MCG
Semi-Finals: 1 at both grounds
Preliminary Final: always at Waverley

 

[The_Wookie]

The VFL really tried to push the big games and finals to VFL Park until they brokered the agreement with the government and the MCG to rebuild the Southern Stand and shift focus back to the G.

They were left with no choice - The VFL were threatened with the VicGov legislating the grand final to be at the MCG, forcing the VFL, while in addition not funding the railway line that was first proposed in the late 60s.

 

[What else we can do]

So difficult for Geelong to get to one of their own players missed the bus and didn’t play!

Gary Sidebottom?