2026 Attendances

[manicmagpie]

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.

To be fair there's only been 3 in history, all in pretty special circumstances. We've got about 8 that are all within 1k of each other around the 88k mark.

I feel this one's been built up too much to hit 90k. It's weird how crowd dynamics work, you probably want expectations to be set lower then gradually build so that the huge number still comes as a surprise. Whenever it's hyped right from the start as massive it seems to turn some people off. But I live in hope.

 

[Rouel_14]

To be fair there's only been 3 in history, all in pretty special circumstances. We've got about 8 that are all within 1k of each other around the 88k mark.

I feel this one's been built up too much to hit 90k. It's weird how crowd dynamics work, you probably want expectations to be set lower then gradually build so that the huge number still comes as a surprise. Whenever it's hyped right from the start as massive it seems to turn some people off. But I live in hope.

They don’t get much more special than today. He may hold the record for all our lifetimes.

If today doesn’t start with a 90 hopefully it gives the Pies the courage to change a broken 50 year old system.

 

[Hawkk]

78,815 at the g

This is one of the most impressive MCG crowds so far this year. The MCC / AFL have nailed their ticketing and we are now seeing these games drawing 10k or so more than they would have 5 or 10 years ago (i.e. 17 vs 18 in a marquee slot).

Perhaps the drop off in the economy is helping attendance not hindering it. At the end of the day, a day at the football is still cheaper than a lot of other family activities and attendances have historically gone up during difficult economic times.

 

[Feraligatr]

Perhaps the drop off in the economy is helping attendance not hindering it. At the end of the day, a day at the football is still cheaper than a lot of other family activities and attendances have historically gone up during difficult economic times.

This makes sense. People want to escape from the doom and gloom around them so 2 hours where they can cheer and let off some steam is a no brainer.

 

[Rouel_14]

This is one of the most impressive MCG crowds so far this year. The MCC / AFL have nailed their ticketing and we are now seeing these games drawing 10k or so more than they would have 5 or 10 years ago (i.e. 17 vs 18 in a marquee slot).

Perhaps the drop off in the economy is helping attendance not hindering it. At the end of the day, a day at the football is still cheaper than a lot of other family activities and attendances have historically gone up during difficult economic times.

I keep thinking cost of living is going to hit - but every time I’m in Melbourne the city gets busier and busier. There are 100% a cohort of people struggling. I run a charity in rural vic and we feed 10% of the population every week, but it seems that the other 90% have absolutely zero cost of living issues.

 

[ep12]

35,869 for Geelong Sydney

 

[Fambam84]

35,869 for Geelong Sydney

Looked absolutely packed. Not sure how they got 39k for that first game with the new stand open against the Saints

 

[Gizmo]

Pies/Eagles 90,028 at the G.

 

[AstuteTiger]

90K non-public holiday crowds.

1. Rich V Hawks 92,311 (2024)
2. Blues V Bombers 91,571 (2000)
3. Rich V Blues 90,151 (2018)
4. Pies V Eagles 90,028 (2026)

 

[____]

Sad that we only held the record for Vic v Non-Vic for 9 months.

 

[manicmagpie]

Sad that we only held the record for Vic v Non-Vic for 9 months.

This one’s going to take some beating now.

 

[MattF185]

16,260 at Docklands for North Melb v Gold Coast.

7th time the two sides have played each other at Marvel - today was the fourth biggest.

 

[Hawkk]

Sad that we only held the record for Vic v Non-Vic for 9 months.

Given their following it’s surprisingly no Swans MCG game has drawn 80,000 tbh. With Collingwood expected to drop off somewhat it might not happen for a few more years yet…

 

[manicmagpie]

West Coast jump 8 places on the table of each team’s highest crowd. Now outrank the likes of Geelong!

 

[kranger]

West Coast jump 8 places on the table of each team’s highest crowd. Now outrank the likes of Geelong!

View attachment 2618944

Hopefully in 5 weeks time, that Gold Coast crowd changes to Fremantle.

Giving the Suns their highest home crowd vs Freo, highest away crowd vs Freo, and highest finals crowd vs Freo.

 

[kickazz]

35,869 for Geelong Sydney

Saturday twilight gets a good crowd in Geelong. And the Swans fans always turn up too, so not that surprised.

 

[kickazz]

35 at KP, 90 to see Pendles.

No matter what we say about the AFL and the scheduling and game day experience pissing us all off, these numbers don't lie.

People still love going to the footy.

 

[WesternSydneyHawk]

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.

The added benefit for the AFL is that it shows everyone why the Tassie Devils need an indoor stadium if they are to hold night games over winter in Tassie.

There has been some resistance to Point Macquarie in the state parliament down there, in some sections of the community, and on the mainland from some prominent football figures.

Just in the week leading up to the match, there were some articles saying some club board members are getting a bit concerned at the escalating costs.

The match showed everyone why a stadium roof is one of licence conditions for a Tassie team.

 

[Angus Young]

Pies/Eagles 90,028 at the G.

Great crowd

 

[clarkoscluster]

Given their following it’s surprisingly no Swans MCG game has drawn 80,000 tbh. With Collingwood expected to drop off somewhat it might not happen for a few more years yet…

South Melbourne never had a huge supporter base when they were Melbourne based… let alone when they’ve relocated and half a century later on, not surprised they haven’t pulled crowds in the 80s. They already bat above their average and have contributed to big MCG crowds, although majority of the leg work has been done by the home team.

 

[gopies1981]

Sad that we only held the record for Vic v Non-Vic for 9 months.

But even more amazing that out of 90,000 that were at the game today 89,000 were Collingwood supporters. Brisbane and Sydney have strong vic support due to there Fitrzoy and Sydney Ties.

Last years 82,000 crowd where Collingwood and Brisbane played there were probably 15,000 Brisbane supporters (and 90% of them would of been ex Pat Fitzroy supporters who crossed over to support the Brisbane Lions)

The Collingwood v West Coast crowd of 90,028 will probably never be broken by a Victorian team v interstate team

 

[Hawkk]

South Melbourne never had a huge supporter base when they were Melbourne based… let alone when they’ve relocated and half a century later on, not surprised they haven’t pulled crowds in the 80s. They already bat above their average and have contributed to big MCG crowds, although majority of the leg work has been done by the home team.

South were more popular than Fitzroy (historically) and would obviously be bigger than all other non Vic clubs. They have roughly the same amount of MCC members as North and the Dogs.

 

[Hawkk]

But even more amazing that out of 90,000 that were at the game today 89,000 were Collingwood supporters. Brisbane and Sydney have strong vic support due to there Fitrzoy and Sydney Ties.

Last years 82,000 crowd where Collingwood and Brisbane played there were probably 15,000 Brisbane supporters (and 90% of them would of been ex Pat Fitzroy supporters who crossed over to support the Brisbane Lions)

The Collingwood v West Coast crowd of 90,028 will probably never be broken by a Victorian team v interstate team

Lots of stars lined up though — you don’t have the games record being broken at the MCG against a non Victorian team often. Not saying other clubs would draw what Collingwood did but it effectively took a 60-65k game and made it 90k plus.

 

[clarkoscluster]

The added benefit for the AFL is that it shows everyone why the Tassie Devils need an indoor stadium if they are to hold night games over winter in Tassie.

There has been some resistance to Point Macquarie in the state parliament down there, in some sections of the community, and on the mainland from some prominent football figures.

Just in the week leading up to the match, there were some articles saying some club board members are getting a bit concerned at the escalating costs.

The match showed everyone why a stadium roof is one of licence conditions for a Tassie team.

you do realise they will still host games in launceston in winter without a roof?

 

[WesternSydneyHawk]

you do realise they will still host games in launceston in winter without a roof?

You do realise my comment was: "The added benefit for the AFL is that it shows everyone why the Tassie Devils need an indoor stadium if they are to hold night games over winter in Tassie."

Note I said  night games.

The AFL has agreed to the Devils hosting four games a year in Launceston, but they won't necessarily be night games.

There's a decent possibility that the Devils' night games will be in Hobart under the roof, with day games in Launceston on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.