2026 Attendances

[ep12]

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.

Ye think Manic is on the money here. Richmond member show rate will play a big part and for Anzac Eve those areas were at best 50% full which is why it went from the usual 71-74k Richmond home crowd to 67k. If more of them show up and with Essendon bringing more to an away game than Melbourne, it should comfortably get to 72-75 imo.

 

[Fambam84]

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

Especially considering it was two teams who just faced off in a semi final last year. Those two teams had to play in Melbourne, and Launceston should only have day and twilight games between late May and August.

 

[Rob]

Well honestly.

In a league with probably the most inequitable fixture anywhere in the world, Letting clubs go and make their own stadium deals would bring back an element of fairness.

Geelong want 11 games in Geelong? Go for it.

Hawks think Launceston is financially viable? Go forth and prove it.

Essendon and Carlton want more games at the G? Convince the MCC to let them in.

Some club can somehow find $2 billion to build their own? - how cool.

Subject to a maximum number of games I can't see why any club can't negotiate with the stadium directly. Clearly they couldn't have more than a certain amount - say 60 - but from there its up to the clubs and the MCC to work that out.

The AFL loves to emulate foreign sporting leagues but you'd never see the NFL or EPL sign deals with stadiums for club home games.

 

[The Educator]

Subject to a maximum number of games I can't see why any club can't negotiate with the stadium directly. Clearly they couldn't have more than a certain amount - say 60 - but from there its up to the clubs and the MCC to work that out.

The AFL loves to emulate foreign sporting leagues but you'd never see the NFL or EPL sign deals with stadiums for club home games.

Not sure that AFL doing something that foreign sporting leagues don't do validates that the AFL loves to emulate foreign sporting leagues.

Surely it's more evidence that the AFL appropriates ideas from foreign sporting leagues it thinks work in the AFL context as well as continuing to do a number of things that make sense in the AFL context?

Is it possible the cognitive dissonance is in your bonce?

 

[ep12]

78,815 at the g

 

[Gizmo]

Tigers/Dons crowd: 78,815

 

[manicmagpie]

53,707 in Freo.

Record between the two clubs.

 

[Gizmo]

Freo/Saints crowd: 53,707

 

[Fambam84]

A record crowd for a Freo v Saints game.

What are they waiting for? Expand Optus to 70k now!

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Strong crowds for both Friday night games.

 

[Rouel_14]

A record crowd for a Freo v Saints game.

What are they waiting for? Expand Optus to 70k now!

Agreed.
Are Freo selling out at 54K like eagles?

Eagles aren’t going to be this bad again for a long time and Freo aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Not too far a stretch to see a world in the not to distant future where most games are getting 65,000.

22 games footy, cricket, concerts. Make it 70,000 already.

 

[Rouel_14]

78,815 at the g

Highest crowd between a bottom two ever.

Very vic centric bias, but god it be fun to have Richmond, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn playing finals or at least competitive at the same time.

 

[Rob]

Not sure that AFL doing something that foreign sporting leagues don't do validates that the AFL loves to emulate foreign sporting leagues.

Lol they unashamedly copy leagues in America with things like the draft and salary cap.

They **** up clash jumpers more than just about every other sporting league too. That's not evidence that they don't model themselves on other sporting leagues, thats evidence they're run by idiots.

Surely it's more evidence that the AFL appropriates ideas from foreign sporting leagues it thinks work in the AFL context as well as continuing to do a number of things that make sense in the AFL context?

Or its an outdated remnant from the days of running a state league. How many national sporting leagues anywhere have a similar arrangement to force clubs to play home games at a ground just because the league signs the contract?

There's a reason for that - its a dumb idea.

Is it possible the cognitive dissonance is in your bonce?

Personal insults? This isnt the bay champ.

 

[What else we can do]

Highest crowd between a bottom two ever.

Very vic centric bias, but god it be fun to have Richmond, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn playing finals or at least competitive at the same time.

Add West Coast, Adelaide and Freo and it ends up less Vic centric

 

[Rob]

Agreed.
Are Freo selling out at 54K like eagles?

Eagles aren’t going to be this bad again for a long time and Freo aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Not too far a stretch to see a world in the not to distant future where most games are getting 65,000.

22 games footy, cricket, concerts. Make it 70,000 already.

It wasn't quite a sellout tonight but there wouldnt have been many more than 1000 tickets or so left.

I doubt Optus will ever get expanded though. Hope im wrong.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Just got home, Amazing crowd at the G. Atmosphere was great for top of the table, oops sorry, bottom of the ladder clash.

 

[Righteo]

I don't think it's worth expanding Optus when only a final has the potential to get 70k, an event that happens once or twice a year at most. Possibly a derby when both teams are near the top of the ladder but that's an even rarer event.

 

[Cmarsh]

I don't think it's worth expanding Optus when only a final has the potential to get 70k, an event that happens once or twice a year at most. Possibly a derby when both teams are near the top of the ladder but that's an even rarer event.

Wouldn't 70k allow getting people off the Eagles membership waiting list?

 

[Fletched]

The support the tigers had last night for 18th was massive

 

[shammersting]

What is the Optus capacity? I thought 60k and another 5k if they ever brought seats in for rectangular mode...

 

[Rouel_14]

Add West Coast, Adelaide and Freo and it ends up less Vic centric

The support the tigers had last night for 18th was massive

I often wonder what our crowds would be like if our dynasty was post COVID in the crowd boom.

We certainly showed what we are capable of From 17-19 and crowds especially finals were already on the up, but the post covid bounce and being successful would have pushed it even higher I’d think.

 

[Rouel_14]

I don't think it's worth expanding Optus when only a final has the potential to get 70k, an event that happens once or twice a year at most. Possibly a derby when both teams are near the top of the ladder but that's an even rarer event.

I reckon there is 20,000 on the eagles wait list that would disagree. If it was Victoria and they could add another 10,000 seats to the G without massive costs it be an election winning promise.

 

[largebus]

What is the Optus capacity? I thought 60k and another 5k if they ever brought seats in for rectangular mode...

61,500 odd

Reserved seat member no-shows are about 5k every "sellout", though there were still a few tickets left for this one and the Hawthorn game.

Only games that get above 55k are finals, the 2021 GF had 61,300 because there's almost no reserved seats (AFL members of which none could get to WA) and half of it gets flogged to corporates

 

[manicmagpie]

Records to watch today:

Coll v WC - 62,957
WC all time - 62,957
Any Vic team v completely non-Vic (i.e. no Swans or Lions) - 67,697
Any teams from different states - 82,326
Collingwood non public holiday - 88,362

 

[Rouel_14]

Records to watch today:

Coll v WC - 62,957
WC all time - 62,957
Any Vic team v completely non-Vic (i.e. no Swans or Lions) - 67,697
Any teams from different states - 82,326
Collingwood non public holiday - 88,362

All should fall rightfully so as the pies celebrate their own hero.

Surprises me that the pies haven’t had a 90 on a non public holiday. Those reserve seats need attention.