2026 Attendances

[manicmagpie]

Geelong vs Collingwood = 83,166

Collingwood's last 3 games have totalled 252,029 which is the most all time for 3 successive H&A games. The previous record was 247,840 set by Collingwood in Rounds 6-8 in 2024.

We have just missed the record for 4 games in a row. Our last 4 games have totalled 330,087 which is the 2nd most of all time - about 1.8k short of our own record from Rounds 2-5 in 2013 which totalled 331,824.

Consecutive crowd records:

2 games in a row - 182,006 Coll in 2024
3 games in a row - 252,029 Coll in 2026
4 games in a row - 331,824 Coll in 2013
5 games in a row - 374,538 Coll in 2024
6 games in a row - 436,482 Coll in 2023 (should destroy this in 2 weeks' time)

 

[TheEscapeClub]

AFL must be stoked with the current ladder, particularly positions 16, 17 and 18.

At least 9th are still pulling crowds.

 

[Fletched]

AFL must be stoked with the current ladder, particularly positions 16, 17 and 18.

At least 9th are still pulling crowds.

Someone has to be 16th 17th 18th they cant avoid bad teams

 

[dave10]

Sounds about right.

Few Essendon supporters, especially when compared to the number of Hawthorn supporters for Opening Round.

Are there fewer Essendon supporters in Sydney? Or are they less willing to travel, given how their season is going?

There was a decent crowd in the Sutton and members' stand, including in the top deck.

But they closed the top deck of the Cumberland and Sinclair Stands.

Of course, for TV the cameras point at the stands where the top deck is closed rather than the ones where it's open.

So the crowd was much bigger in person than it seemed on TV.

They’ve won 2 from 23 the last 18 months and done nothing for 20 years. Largely uncompetitive this year. Reasonable to expect they aren’t travelling in large numbers atm. If your team isn’t performing the crowds stay home. Simple as that.

Essendon is at that stage where its fans have been dealt wave, after wave of kicks to the guts where the fans don’t trust the Club and things seem genuinely hopeless. Similar to Carlton (prior to 2021), Richmond, Demons (pre 2016) etc.

They’ve drafted well in recent years and have another 18 months more painful years to endure. There’s no doubt there’s a light at the end of the horizon in the young crop coming through. Just need to jettison a few more experienced players, keep drafting high talent and then hit trading /FA.

 

[____]

Are there fewer Essendon supporters in Sydney? Or are they less willing to travel, given how their season is going?

I've met 3 GWS fans in my life that live in Western Sydney, those three were Essendon fans before GWS came in.

I attended the previous Giants Essendon game in 2023 and there were definitely way more Essendon supporters there than tonight which appears to have seen a sizable drop off. Pretty sure the Essendon cheer squad bay was near full and the other side of the stadium was much fuller than tonight with Essendon fans in 2023.

What I noticed tonight was a drop off in Essendon supporters but an uptick in Giants supporters. Still need another couple of seasons to really start noticing the Giants uptick for people who don't come to our games often but it's obvious to those of us who attend regularly.

It's worth noting that GWS v Essendon in 2023 had the women's world cup final in Sydney the following day.

There would have been a few Essendon fans that like both sports and would have made a trip out of it.

 

[GenericUsername202]

There's a reason why GWS are changing their name. It's because of crowds like this.

 

[ep12]

There’s more people at marvel today than there were for this game last year but it’s not 20k

 

[TigerTime_89]

There’s more people at marvel today than there were for this game last year but it’s not 20k

Suspect the MCG could be just as empty.

 

[robbieando]

Richmond vs Adelaide: 22,123

 

[Hawkk]

Geelong vs Collingwood =

Incredible crowd.

Collingwood's last 3 games have totalled 252,029 which is the most all time for 3 successive H&A games. The previous record was 247,840 set by Collingwood in Rounds 6-8 in 2024.

We have just missed the record for 4 games in a row. Our last 4 games have totalled 330,087 which is the 2nd most of all time - about 1.8k short of our own record from Rounds 2-5 in 2013 which totalled 331,824.

Consecutive crowd records:

2 games in a row - 182,006 Coll in 2024
3 games in a row - 252,029 Coll in 2026
4 games in a row - 331,824 Coll in 2013
5 games in a row - 374,538 Coll in 2024
6 games in a row - 436,482 Coll in 2023 (should destroy this in 2 weeks' time)

Two of those games were on a Thursday too (which cost them 85,000-plus). It’s insane that it was only two or three years ago that posters were claiming that Collingwood was not the biggest club. Fortunately those posters have all gone into hibernation.

 

[Underarm]

Richmond vs Adelaide: 22,123

Awful crowd, but thats what mother's day, 20 injuries and 18th place will do that.

 

[ep12]

Still no official figure for the Melbourne eagles game but reckon it’s going to be around 18.5k

 

[TigerRoar]

Just dumb putting any footy on Mother’s Day. Should be completely footy free

 

[AstuteTiger]

Awful crowd, but thats what mother's day, 20 injuries and 18th place will do that.

100%. 13 in our crew go to the footy. Only 5 went today. I'd say more to do with Mother's Day.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Mother’s Day is renowned for being the graveyard slot of the year.

I can’t criticise anyone who didn’t attend.

 

[Cmarsh]

Just dumb putting any footy on Mother’s Day. Should be completely footy free

Not much the league can do about it. Can't put more games on Saturday as its too overcrowded and a Monday night game won't work.

 

[manicmagpie]

Mother’s Day is renowned for being the graveyard slot of the year.

I can’t criticise anyone who didn’t attend.

Not much the league can do about it. Can't put more games on Saturday as its too overcrowded and a Monday night game won't work.

Only fair thing to do is to share it around.

 

[Underarm]

Only fair thing to do is to share it around.

Hasn't been a mothers day match in Perth, sydney or Brisbane since before covid. Collingwood, Richmond and Adelaide well over their fair share.

 

[TigerTrain23]

I wonder if a standalone Sunday night 7.20pm MCG game would be worth trying on Mother's Day evening.

Collingwood v interstate club would still get 40k IMO.

 

[Hawkk]

I reckon you go big or don’t try at all. Before Kings Birthday Eve Essendon and Carlton looked at Mother’s Day. But it drew a one off terrible crowd and they gave up.

The first ever Rd 1 Richmond v Carlton fixture drew 58,000 and the first Dreamtime at the G fixture drew 50,000 so these marquee fixtures can build if you give them time.

 

[manicmagpie]

I wonder if a standalone Sunday night 7.20pm MCG game would be worth trying on Mother's Day evening.

Collingwood v interstate club would still get 40k IMO.

You want to take Mother's Day crowds and make them worse by putting them on at night? I know the argument will be that Mother's Day lunches etc will be done with but don't underestimate the apathy for going out on a Sunday night with a normal work day the next day.

They tried putting Collingwood / Carlton on a regular Sunday night in 2014 and it only just got to 40k.

It ranks 79th out of 82 games between the teams at the MCG or Waverley, with no MCG games and only 3 Waverley games in the 80s below it.

For context that matchup averages over 71k for the last 20 years, so I really don't want to know what a game against a non-Vic team looks like in that timeslot.

 

[Rouel_14]

I wonder if a standalone Sunday night 7.20pm MCG game would be worth trying on Mother's Day evening.

Collingwood v interstate club would still get 40k IMO.

Mother’s Day just won’t work no matter what you do. Maybe start the byes this weekend, play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and just have the day off?

Maybe local leagues could have the Sunday and celebrate mums. Far more likely to watch their kids than their team. Could be good to get a bit of toxic masculinity broken down at local level too.

 

[manicmagpie]

Mother’s Day just won’t work no matter what you do. Maybe start the byes this weekend, play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and just have the day off?

Maybe local leagues could have the Sunday and celebrate mums. Far more likely to watch their kids than their team. Could be good to get a bit of toxic masculinity broken down at local level too.

When Tassie comes in some rounds will have more byes than others and this will be one of them, so I can definitely see it going down to 1 match without any issues.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Still waiting for an official attendance figure for Melbourne vs West Coast.

Someone earlier mentioned 18.5K as a potential figure.

 

[ep12]

Still waiting for an official attendance figure for Melbourne vs West Coast.

Someone earlier mentioned 18.5K as a potential figure.

that was just a guess based on being there compared with last year.

Curious that there is still no figure