2026 Attendances

[Hawkk]

The issue is more about the sponsorships and full time staff rather than the games by themselves. The City of Launceston was prepared to fork out money for the games themselves (and they are now a sponsor of the club too).

It’s still a potential restraint of trade.

 

[jdisc]

Perhaps in hindsight having 9 teams in Melbourne and 1 in Geelong with the remainder spread across the country wasn't the best allocation of resources

 

[What else we can do]

What power do they have though? I guess the Dees probably have some soft power through the MCC but they don’t have any power over the actual fixture. If they did we wouldn’t be having the two biggest MCC clubs (Melbourne and Essendon) playing in Gather Round every year.

The AFL wouldn't dare fixture 6/5 Marvel/MCG split for Melbourne or Richmond that's power soft or not. But they schedule Essendon v Melbourne every year.

 

[Hawkk]

The AFL wouldn't dare fixture 6/5 Marvel/MCG split for Melbourne or Richmond that's power soft or not. But they schedule Essendon v Melbourne every year.

There is absolutely no value in Melbourne games at Marvel (they get 15,000 people). Richmond used to be a decent Marvel draw before their fans stopped rocking up. That’s why both clubs now sell games interstate (which Collingwood and Essendon would never dare to do).

I know that’s pot calling the kettle black given Hawthorn’s history in Tasmania!

 

[ep12]

What power do they have though? I guess the Dees probably have some soft power through the MCC but they don’t have any power over the actual fixture. If they did we wouldn’t be having the two biggest MCC clubs (Melbourne and Essendon) playing in Gather Round every year.

Melbourne has a contract with the MCC to play 10 home games at the MCG and the afl chooses not to follow that.

Funnily enough the afl doesn’t breach collingwoods contract ever.

 

[Hawkk]

Perhaps in hindsight having 9 teams in Melbourne and 1 in Geelong with the remainder spread across the country wasn't the best allocation of resources

Well half the Melbourne teams average 60,000 or more to their home state games so if anything it proves the system works. The reason why Hawthorn was kicked out of Tasmania was because their success would undercut the viability of the expansion franchise and ironically the commission wants those games back at the MCG (i.e. in Melbourne)

Questions come for Hawthorn as club cries poor in Tassie fallout

‘I don’t know how they didn’t see this coming.’

7news.com.au

“In the end, the view of the commission, and they met last week, was Hawthorn play at the MCG, and they get 60,000, 70,000, 80,000 people. So the AFL are trying to get bigger attendances across the competition.

On Saturday, we had a regular season game between the 5th and 7th biggest teams in the state draw 69,000. That to me shows that the home and away attendance model (which has underpinned the VFL/AFL for 130 years) is thriving. If anything we need more Melbourne fixtures not less.

The worst outcome is 15,000 attendances in Tasmania, Qld, NSW, ACT and NT.

 

[Hawkk]

Melbourne has a contract with the MCC to play 10 home games at the MCG and the afl chooses not to follow that.

Funnily enough the afl doesn’t breach collingwoods contract ever.

Interesting. Is this mentioned online because it would be genuinely interesting if clubs had actual contracts and not just demands.

Ultimately I think it would be good IF clubs could negotiate their own way but I’m not aware of a formal contract.

 

[ep12]

Interesting. Is this mentioned online because it would be genuinely interesting if clubs had actual contracts and not just demands.

Ultimately I think it would be good IF clubs could negotiate their own way but I’m not aware of a formal contract.

There definitely was one in place.

The moment St Kilda asked for an MCG game 3 years ago we lost our tenth home game and got sent to Marvel.
We had no Marvel home games between 2017 and 2024.

 

[jdisc]

Well half the Melbourne teams average 60,000 or more to their home state games so if anything it proves the system works.

Interesting, and the other half??

On Saturday, we had a regular season game between the 5th and 7th biggest teams in the state draw 69,000. That to me shows that the home and away attendance model (which has underpinned the VFL/AFL for 130 years) is thriving. If anything we need more Melbourne fixtures not less.

No doubt there are very successful clubs in Melbourne, I think you know that isn't my point.

I am talking specifically about the seagull clubs.

The worst outcome is 15,000 attendances in Tasmania, Qld, NSW, ACT and NT.

I am critical of the expansion clubs too. The idea that Gold Coast and 'Western Sydney' got a club before an actual football state is laughable.

 

[dave10]

Really?? Melbourne and Richmond are anchor tenants (as you put it) also. Essendon are stuck at Marvel and obliged to play there doubt they the have power as you suggest with the AFL whenever their deal runs out.

Essendon’s Marvel deal concluded at the end of 2024. They don’t have a long term deal there.

Hence why they got 5th homer at the G this year. Alternating the extra MCG with Carlton every second year alternating. everything will change again in 2038 obviously.

 

[Rouel_14]

They're not forcing Hawthorn to play matches in Melbourne, they're preventing Hawthorn from playing home games where another team also plays home games in this specific instance (btw, I do think that the AFL in that they should not be hypocrites should also not allow North to sell games to WA too, but anyway).

If Hawks wanted to play home games in Albury, they could. They'd prefer to play them at Docklands though.

On a tangent Albury is so untapped.

If GWS don’t jump on it, any club could fill Lavington sports Oval with 12,000 2-3 times a year.

3rd largest Australian inland city. 250,000 population + within an hour drive of the oval, one of the most picturesque ovals there is and absolute footy heartland.

 

[Hawkk]

Interesting, and the other half??

Given the other half play all their games at a venue that only 55,000 every Victorian club averages more than 30,000 in their home market.

No doubt there are very successful clubs in Melbourne, I think you know that isn't my point.

I am talking specifically about the seagull clubs.



I am critical of the expansion clubs too. The idea that Gold Coast and 'Western Sydney' got a club before an actual football state is laughable.

Tasmania will also struggle to draw 20,000.

 

[What else we can do]

There is absolutely no value in Melbourne games at Marvel (they get 15,000 people). Richmond used to be a decent Marvel draw before their fans stopped rocking up. That’s why both clubs now sell games interstate (which Collingwood and Essendon would never dare to do).

I know that’s pot calling the kettle black given Hawthorn’s history in Tasmania!

Collingwood had plans to sell a game on the Gold Coast it's a great way to make a quick buck and promote the club around Australia. Selling games is also in line with the interests of the AFL.

 

[Underarm]

They're not forcing Hawthorn to play matches in Melbourne, they're preventing Hawthorn from playing home games where another team also plays home games in this specific instance (btw, I do think that the AFL in that they should not be hypocrites should also not allow North to sell games to WA too, but anyway).

If Hawks wanted to play home games in Albury, they could. They'd prefer to play them at Docklands though.

But If they don't find somewhere else to play those games, then they will be in Melbourne.

And its not a new concept. The AFL 'compensate' Geelong for not giving them all 11 home games in Geelong by giving them less games at Docklands.

 

[TigerTime_89]

General Admission

Shane Warne Stand - Level 4
Q1-Q10 rows V-DD

Olympic Stand - Level 4
Q49-Q55 rows BB-MM

Ticket sales have been tracking well this week. Both clubs and the AFL have spent a lot advertising the game, at least anecdotally.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

8,312 for Hawks at Launceston vs Adelaide. Noting the limited availability due to the refurbishment, it was the 4th lowest attendance ever for a Hawks match there (out of 88 games played), and the 3rd lowest crowd for any Hawks vs Adelaide match (only the 2020 game and the 2021 COVID impacted game had lower attendances).

Hawks fire up after slow start to keep Crows at bay

Hawthorn's Launceston dominance continues with a nine-point win over Kuwarna

www.afl.com.au

 

[ep12]

General Admission

Shane Warne Stand - Level 4
Q1-Q10 rows V-DD

Olympic Stand - Level 4
Q49-Q55 rows BB-MM

Ticket sales have been tracking well this week. Both clubs and the AFL have spent a lot advertising the game, at least anecdotally.

Not to be too much of a Grinch but Richmond had originally designated this as fully ticketed (no idea why) so the ticket sales have actually been much poorer compared to what was originally expected.
Given an expected poor member show up and weak sales on level 4 of the afl and mcc I suspect 75k is the ceiling which to be fair is pretty great for 17th and 18th.

 

[dave10]

Not to be too much of a Grinch but Richmond had originally designated this as fully ticketed (no idea why) so the ticket sales have actually been much poorer compared to what was originally expected.
Given an expected poor member show up and weak sales on level 4 of the afl and mcc I suspect 75k is the ceiling which to be fair is pretty great for 17th and 18th.

75k for this would be ridiculously good. Two total basement teams.

 

[MadMaxx]

8,312 for Hawks at Launceston vs Adelaide. Noting the limited availability due to the refurbishment, it was the 4th lowest attendance ever for a Hawks match there (out of 88 games played), and the 3rd lowest crowd for any Hawks vs Adelaide match (only the 2020 game and the 2021 COVID impacted game had lower attendances).

Hawks fire up after slow start to keep Crows at bay

Hawthorn's Launceston dominance continues with a nine-point win over Kuwarna

www.afl.com.au

AFL Fixuring was poor.

Night Games at UTAS are a bad idea. It is effin cold

And Thursday nights are way worse, as you just killed the Tourism options from the mainlaind. Those 8,312 would have been all locals, minus the ones with young families.

It is increasingly a TV game.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Not to be too much of a Grinch but Richmond had originally designated this as fully ticketed (no idea why) so the ticket sales have actually been much poorer compared to what was originally expected.
Given an expected poor member show up and weak sales on level 4 of the afl and mcc I suspect 75k is the ceiling which to be fair is pretty great for 17th and 18th.

Yeah, agree but must say that the initial fully ticketed announcement didn't last long. Has been noted as GA for almost 2 months.
Happy for punters to scan in and walk up to level 4. Richmond and the AFL have promoted it well. Continuous adverts daily on social media and email roll-outs too.

Great weather, who knows, could well get to high 70's, which would be amazing for 17th V 18th

 

[dave10]

Yeah, agree but must say that the initial fully ticketed announcement didn't last long. Has been noted as GA for almost 2 months.
Happy for punters to scan in and walk up to level 4. Richmond and the AFL have promoted it well. Continuous adverts daily on social media and email roll-outs too.

Great weather, who knows, could well get to high 70's, which would be amazing for 17th V 18th

I will be a contrarian regarding sales….. btw, Bombers have been pushing it hard too. Remember it was a Sheedy brainchild and it inaugurated The Long Walk so it makes sense it would be pushing this ‘event’ and walk pretty solidly even if it’s an away game. Ponsford Stand was sold out quickly indicating Bomber fans pre purchased pretty strongly imo.

Ticket sales. They’ve kept back 1/3 only of Warne (9 bays) and Olympic (7 bays). Offsetting this, they’ve completely sold 4 bays (Q) of AFL members as well as likely 1.5 bays (Q) of MCC. Sakes are roaring (sorry!) today still.

Depending on whether the clubs GA members can be stuffed watching a ‘pick 1’ offering tonight, it looms as a near sellout in the public reserve. That says it’s sold well irrespective of changes to the sale method and timings.

And if you’re going, you’re a masochist!

 

[year of the cat]

AFL Fixuring was poor.

Night Games at UTAS are a bad idea. It is effin cold

And Thursday nights are way worse, as you just killed the Tourism options from the mainlaind. Those 8,312 would have been all locals, minus the ones with young families.

It is increasingly a TV game.

Mind blowingly stupid scheduling. You have to wonder how that was looked at and signed off on.

 

[manicmagpie]

AFL Fixuring was poor.

Night Games at UTAS are a bad idea. It is effin cold

And Thursday nights are way worse, as you just killed the Tourism options from the mainlaind. Those 8,312 would have been all locals, minus the ones with young families.

It is increasingly a TV game.

Mind blowingly stupid scheduling. You have to wonder how that was looked at and signed off on.

I'd say it was very deliberate and even understandable. With the hugely reduced capacity this year they knew that making it a Thursday night game would cost almost nothing in terms of attendance, but that it had the interest to be a prime time game.

 

[Rouel_14]

Not to be too much of a Grinch but Richmond had originally designated this as fully ticketed (no idea why) so the ticket sales have actually been much poorer compared to what was originally expected.
Given an expected poor member show up and weak sales on level 4 of the afl and mcc I suspect 75k is the ceiling which to be fair is pretty great for 17th and 18th.

75K would have to be nearly crowd of the year.

Sure it’s Dreamtime, but I feel like even 16 when Dons players were out it was still 55ish?

 

[manicmagpie]

75K would have to be nearly crowd of the year.

Sure it’s Dreamtime, but I feel like even 16 when Dons players were out it was still 55ish?

Realistically, when you look at the figures for Essendon & Richmond this year there's a lot of supporters who would normally go to their games that haven't been (understandably).

This week will probably be the week that they all decide to show up, both because of the occasion and because this is the week that they might see a win.

Most Essendon supporters haven't seen a win in almost exactly a year since the last Dreamtime game, Richmond fans haven't seen a win in Melbourne since the other time you played Essendon last year 10 and a half months ago. No wonder fans want to take whatever chance they can get.