2026 Attendances

[Rouel_14]

Tonight was never going to draw 80,000. Mid-to-high 70s was always the ceiling, and nobody gave Essendon a hope anyway.

What I can’t work out is why this got Friday Night billing. It’s the third marquee MCG game in five nights, and outside of Essendon and Hawthorn fans, nobody really cares — the rivalry is probably the only VFL grudge match left that isn’t a marketing construct, but that only goes so far. Any neutral got their fix on Sunday night. Thursday and Friday were an afterthought.

Sydney v Brisbane would have been a better Friday Night game and probably would have outrated this one anyway. Ditto Geelong v Fremantle and maybe even W Bulldogs v GWS.

I don’t mind Carlton v Richmond and Essendon v Hawthorn opening the season — two big rivalry games that don’t involve Collingwood is fine by me (especially if the Pies are scheduled against a smaller club for equalisation).

But why do they need Thursday or Friday? Slot both on Saturday twilight or Sunday afternoon and you still get 75,000 without burning a prime-time window on it.

On a separate note — you’ve got to hand it to Essendon. After 20-odd years of no finals and very little to play for, they still drag enormous numbers to these early season games.

It happened in 2024, it happened in 2017 off the back of the ASADA saga, and it happened again tonight. If they’re pulling 75,000 while they’re in the toilet, how big could these games become once they’re actually good again?

When I joined Bigfooty, the Essendon-Hawthorn rivalry was pretty much dead. Somehow it’s grown stronger the longer both clubs have gone without playing a game of consequence against each other (similar to Carl v Coll with the TV and Radio stations pumping it up).

The Line in the Sand game was 22 years ago. The Lloyd-Sewell hit was 17. The 2001 Preliminary Final was 25. The real nexus of the rivalry is only really three Grand Finals in the 1980s — that’s all ancient history, everyone tied up in that are either middle aged or on the pension card.

I couldn’t imagine Geelong v Hawthorn growing in stature decades removed from their last meaningful final. In fact, that one feels like it’s faded and both played off in a PF last year!

I’ve said it for years but I think Esssndon are the sleeping giant of the AFL. They are the only Vic club that can rival Collingwood for drawing power.

I would argue tradition is as important and that’s why they should stay in those slots.

Same to be said for Easter Monday, kings birthday, Anzac Day, food Friday. Let traditions be that. Tradition.

Since 2009 we have made the 3 hour trek down the Hume to every season opener as Richmond Supporters (other than the obvious Covid). This year half went.

 

[Rouel_14]

Interested to see which clubs you expect to make finals? I presume this is Hawthorn, Geelong (the 1.5) plus either the Dogs or Saints.

I still wouldn’t rule out Collingwood. I can’t see them dropping below 10-12 so they’ll be in finals contention till the end.

All the AFL needs is Collingwood around the mark (guaranteeing 10-12 60,000 plus games a year) and another MCG tenant contending. This year that’ll be Hawthorn. So we should be okay this year, next year and the Tassie years could be an issue if Collingwood slide and another club doesn’t replace them.



Completely different clubs and membership structures. Essendon for example play 4 or 5 home games at the MCG every year (Carlton 5 or 6).

Every even year they play 3 blockbuster MCG home games (Haw, Coll, Carl) and in odd years they get Rich for Dreamtime. Carlton have Rich on even years and Ess in odd years but get the massive Collingwood game every year (biggest rivalry in the VFL).

Because these teams play so many games at the MCG (and are half tenants anyway) they have 20,000 to 30,000 seats locked off for reserve seat in anyway and make way more from 70,000 than they would from 80,000 or more.

This year Essendon and Carlton play 8 MCG games. The Dons and Blues are far closer to Collingwood (14 games), Richmond (13), Melbourne (12) and Hawthorn (11) than they are North (1 game), the Dogs (2 games), the Saints (3 games) or even Geelong (4 games).

As for St Kilda they had a one off home game against biggest club in the AFL and they don’t have massive reserve seating reserves like Carl or Ess. For them, a bit like the Dogs last year (and maybe North next year?), it was about cashing in on as many Collingwood fans buying tickets as possible and making buck whilst they can. Of course if they got Collingwood every year in Opening Round it might be a bit different and they might end up selling packages just for that game (like Coll v Ess for ANZAC Day and Rich v Ess for Dreamtime)

Just my take though.

I was banking on Collingwood and Hawks. Not sure on Cats and won’t play at the G often enough to be a home tenant to help crowds.

Take your point on Saints - I still think home tenants at the MCG are very flat footed on marketing, getting higher member show rates and ensuring a good experience. Would love a crack if anyone is hiring

 

[Hawkk]

I was banking on Collingwood and Hawks. Not sure on Cats and won’t play at the G often enough to be a home tenant to help crowds.

Take your point on Saints - I still think home tenants at the MCG are very flat footed on marketing, getting higher member show rates and ensuring a good experience. Would love a crack if anyone is hiring

So it's two tenants then and not 1.5.…

Collingwood play 14 games at the MCG and Hawthorn play 11. Last year Collingwood (14), Hawthorn (10) and Geelong (5) were the only Vic clubs to make the finals (Geelong 2nd, Collingwood 4th and Hawthorn finished eighth) and the MCC smashed its record for MCG attendances.

This year Collingwood (14), Hawthorn (11), Geelong (5), St Kilda (3) and the Dogs (2) should all make the top 10. The Lions (2) and Swans (2) always draw strong MCG crowds too. As long as Collingwood dont collapse (even a 2024 dip is okay) the MCG crowds will be fine.

 

[Hawkk]

Gerard asked Andrew dillion about the Thursday and Friday night fully ticketed crowds on crunch time. Dillons first response is that the afl is aware of it and GA ticket prices have stayed the same.
GA prices have nothing to do with it because there’s no GA and if the afl and clubs were actually monitoring and aware of ticket sales neither games would have been made fully ticketed.

It's up to the clubs to make the games fully ticketed. The best way to mitigate this is to split the gates and let the AFL manage it — ala 1897 to 1999.

 

[ep12]

It's up to the clubs to make the games fully ticketed. The best way to mitigate this is to split the gates and let the AFL manage it — ala 1897 to 1999.

If the AFL tells them not to make these games fully ticketed, you’d best believe the clubs will listen.

 

[manicmagpie]

Since 2009 we have made the 3 hour trek down the Hume to every season opener as Richmond Supporters (other than the obvious Covid). This year half went.

Gotta say I don’t understand this at all.

A bunch of Richmond supporters didn’t show up to their team’s first game of the season against one of their biggest rivals because last week a different Vic team played another Vic team?

I’d understand it if you were moved off a particular day, like if you didn’t get ANZAC Eve but were shifted until the next week, I’d also understand neutrals being much less inclined to show up but supporters of the two clubs staying away because it wasn’t the first overall match in Melbourne doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Gotta say I don’t understand this at all.

A bunch of Richmond supporters didn’t show up to their team’s first game of the season against one of their biggest rivals because last week a different Vic team played another Vic team?

I’d understand it if you were moved off a particular day, like if you didn’t get ANZAC Eve but were shifted until the next week, I’d also understand neutrals being much less inclined to show up but supporters of the two clubs staying away because it wasn’t the first overall match in Melbourne doesn’t make sense to me.

Can't say for sure, but it seems high ticket prices was the main reason half of Rouel's crew didn't go. Rouel paid $110

Extremely high ticket pricies was the main dominator for both sets of supporters, Rich and Carl not going in bigger numbers like in the previous years. Dont get me wrong, 74.5K is still a very good crowd, but those high ticket prices definitely impacted the overall attendance. $110 level 1 seats, $180 level 2, and $55 level 4 was criminal

 

[AstuteTiger]

dave10 and any other bomber supporters.

Thoughts on Gerard's comment regarding the rebuild

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Dogs vs GWS : 28,318

A bit disappointing depending on your perspective.

While more than it usually gets, some crowds last year vs interstate may have thought it could at least beat the 31,000 odd from 2017.

Maybe I'm getting a bit too excited though.

 

[____]

If an MCG game is fully ticketed, they should allow GA members to book a standing room for $5 or something like that.

Essendon v Hawthorn would have gotten 80k if they weren't greedy.

 

[dave10]

dave10 and any other bomber supporters.

Thoughts on Gerard's comment regarding the rebuild

Who knows? Gerard isn’t on the inside if the club and whilst he’s very astute, his points re not accessing draft picks 1-5 is based on theory and logic and that’s all. Mc Grath was pick #1 and Merrett pick #26 so it’s about more than logic and theory.

I’m still a bit in the know at given family ties and coterie so I hear a quite bit of inner sanctum. They (EFC) think they nailed 2025 draft. Noel Judkins now consults on the draft at EFC and guided Rosa through the draft and Judkins thinks they got the players they rated and wanted. They also think 2-3 of their 2024 crop will be keepers (Clarke / Johnson / Kako) and obviously they like Caddy & Roberts from 2023. They will finish bottom 2-3 this year and probably get another first rounder for Merrett if that transpires (so 2x picks top 10 possible). If they get this years draft right, with Koby Bewick next year it means in theory they’ve built a strong foundation…..

They’ve invested heavily beefing up recruiting dept the last 18 months. Something like another 4-5 talent spotters targeting the school system and the state leagues in particular, focussing on finding the best players beyond the top 20 that everyone knows about..

All this means little however if they don’t ensure they fix fitness and conditioning (1) and maximise development (2). Ultimately these aspects will determine this phase for the club and allow them to focus on trades / FA’s in 2028>.

Andrew Welsh indicated 2026 would be another tough year on field at a coterie gathering recently… I think he’s right!

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Dogs vs GWS : 28,318

A bit disappointing depending on your perspective.

While more than it usually gets, some crowds last year vs interstate may have thought it could at least beat the 31,000 odd from 2017.

Maybe I'm getting a bit too excited though.

Still the Dogs 2nd highest home crowd against the Giants in their history.

Fell short by about 2,300 from the record high of 2017.

 

[Rouel_14]

So it's two tenants then and not 1.5.…

Collingwood play 14 games at the MCG and Hawthorn play 11. Last year Collingwood (14), Hawthorn (10) and Geelong (5) were the only Vic clubs to make the finals (Geelong 2nd, Collingwood 4th and Hawthorn finished eighth) and the MCC smashed its record for MCG attendances.

This year Collingwood (14), Hawthorn (11), Geelong (5), St Kilda (3) and the Dogs (2) should all make the top 10. The Lions (2) and Swans (2) always draw strong MCG crowds too. As long as Collingwood dont collapse (even a 2024 dip is okay) the MCG crowds will be fine.

Home games are always going to be stronger than away games.

Sure you have MCC and AFL Reserve, but the show rate is always going to be higher at home games. Sure numbers may hold up, but they’d be a lot higher if Hawks had 10 home games at the G.

 

[Rouel_14]

Gotta say I don’t understand this at all.

A bunch of Richmond supporters didn’t show up to their team’s first game of the season against one of their biggest rivals because last week a different Vic team played another Vic team?

I’d understand it if you were moved off a particular day, like if you didn’t get ANZAC Eve but were shifted until the next week, I’d also understand neutrals being much less inclined to show up but supporters of the two clubs staying away because it wasn’t the first overall match in Melbourne doesn’t make sense to me.

A combination of reasons, but moving Richmond V Carlton from the season opener makes just a Richmond V Carlton game.

Like moving Collingwood V Essendon off Anzac Day makes it just a Collingwood V Essendon game.

Same applies for Hawks V Geelong, Collingwood V Melbourne and all other games that have built over time.

When it looses its season opener or marquee appeal, add on $110 for a level 1 seat and a 6 hour round trip then it becomes very much a I’ll watch on the couch rather than spend $500 on tickets, accom, petrol etc.

 

[Raz Man]

Collingwood v Adelaide (MCG) = 62,482

 

[threenewpadlocks]

It's not so much about the maximising crowds angle but the trust that a club and the AFL have with its fanbase.

Take a average fan who is not that rusted on, not in the weeds of this discussion, but is part of the reason membership numbers have grown massively (they have purchased a 11 game or a reduced-game GA membership). They are told that they can't use their membership to scan in for a game via text/email. Fair enough, they think - must be a sell out.

They flick on the TV and see tens of thousands of empty seats, dozens of rows in some bays with nobody sitting on it.

They get confused - why couldn't I have used my membership to scan in for this game?

They lose trust - so what's the point of me paying a couple of hundred of dollars when I can't use the membership, or for practical purposes it's only a partial payment to actually attending games?

Their relationship with the club changes - instead of being eager to get involved, give money and justify their support for the club, they see their support as transactional, something to be monetiesed, taken advantage of.

They stop their support, they're less eager to go to games in the future, or they get confused about if they can use their membership in the future.

All so a they can make a few thousand dollars more so a few people pay $28 for an upgrade.

 

[Rabman]

Highest H/A crowd between Adelaide/Bulldogs, 44,979 1993. 100% being broken next Friday.

 

[magic_johnson!]

27,815 in Geelong. It felt like far more at the ground.

 

[Underarm]

Gerard asked Andrew dillion about the Thursday and Friday night fully ticketed crowds on crunch time. Dillons first response is that the afl is aware of it and GA ticket prices have stayed the same.
GA prices have nothing to do with it because there’s no GA and if the afl and clubs were actually monitoring and aware of ticket sales neither games would have been made fully ticketed.

Maybe it does have some impact. If GA prices increase at cpi level maybe clubs would feel like they needed to make games fully ticketed to make a buck.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Sydney vs Brisbane Lions = 38,128

 

[Cmarsh]

Sydney vs Brisbane Lions = 38,128

I believe that's the largest H&A crowd the Swans have had vs Brisbane at the SCG. One Stadium Aus H&A crowd vs Brisbane was bigger in 2005, which was 43512.

 

[MattF185]

What would be a pass mark for North v Port today? 20,000? Played each other 11 times at Docklands with two matches being higher than 20k.

 

[Hawkk]

Collingwood v Adelaide (MCG) = 62,482

Lowest Collingwood v Adelaide attendance at the MCG since 2022 (and a 5,000 drop on last year).

After Thursday (down 5,000) and Friday (down 9,000) is this a sign attendances are actually sliding a bit? Given the build up from last year, and the fact it's round 1, I’m sure the AFL was hoping this would crack 70,000.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

I believe that's the largest H&A crowd the Swans have had vs Brisbane at the SCG. One Stadium Aus H&A crowd vs Brisbane was bigger in 2005, which was 43512.

That's right.

Biggest SCG crowd between the two clubs before last night was 34,926 in 2004.

 

[Cmarsh]

Lowest Collingwood v Adelaide attendance at the MCG since 2022 (and a 5,000 drop on last year).

After Thursday (down 5,000) and Friday (down 9,000) is this a sign attendances are actually sliding a bit? Given the build up from last year, and the fact it's round 1, I’m sure the AFL was hoping this would crack 70,000.

Was last years match also a Saturday night? Just trying to compare apples for apples.