2026 Attendances

[Hawkk]

Interested to know roughly the number of Hawks supporters considering the Hawks might be playing more games there in the future.

From the press conference post game.



Note the comment from 6.00 minutes. “We enjoy coming to Marvel, when we come here we feel it suits our game style and the Hawks fans still turn up.”

This is very different language from Richmond and Melbourne. It’s not surprising that Mitchell doesn’t mind the ground given the Hawks are 11-5 at Marvel under his coaching tenure (and have won the last 8 in a row). He’s 16 from 18 at York Park and 21-22-1 at the MCG. Based on win/loss Hawthorn is a better Marvel team than an MCG team.

 

[dave10]

Probably 5,000 to 10,000 unders given the drawing power of both clubs on a Friday Night marquee slot. That said, the Blues draw really opens up over the next few weeks. Essendon (MND), GWS (Away), West Coast (Marvel), Richmond (MCG), Hawthorn (MCG) and Collingwood (MCG). Could easily see four 75,000 games in that schedule, especially if the fans (and media) embrace the wildcard run. They really need to pick up two or three wins from the Essendon, GWS and West Coast block to make that a possibility…

I have to be honest, I was surprised with the predictions of ~70,000 for this game during the week. Sure, Friday night and only MCG helps but it was still 3-8 Carlton (yes 2 wins in a row) playing an expected contender in Geelong. 61,000 felt bang on based on what I was thinking. The Bkues are now rolling and their crowds will get a lift but I don’t see 70,000 next week against Essendon either. Essendon are likely entering the game at 1-11 with 16/17 players on its injury list. It’s clawing its way to the end of the year again so I doubt it will draw overly well.

 

[Rouel_14]

From the press conference post game.



Note the comment from 6.00 minutes. “We enjoy coming to Marvel, when we come here we feel it suits our game style and the Hawks fans still turn up.”

This is very different language from Richmond and Melbourne. It’s not surprising that Mitchell doesn’t mind the ground given the Hawks are 11-5 at Marvel under his coaching tenure (and have won the last 8 in a row). He’s 16 from 18 at York Park and 21-22-1 at the MCG. Based on win/loss Hawthorn is a better Marvel team than an MCG team.

I think the difference is hawthorn can probably see the writing in the wall that they are going to need to play 3-4 home games there a year. Completely disagree they should have to, but it’s the most likely outcome.

So getting fans on board and building the reputation is much more important long term than a Richmond or Collingwood.

On the flip side if Richmond changed their attitude and embraced it, you could see it creeping up to 2-3 home games a year at Marvel which would be in direct contrast to what the members want.

Hobart was/is a strike of genius. Millions in the bank, a game that will probably draw more than Marvel and no member backlash.

I know everyone can’t travel, but I’m looking forward to a long weekend, footy, good food and a game of never of attended at marvel.

 

[Rouel_14]

All that said - Marvel is a good stadium.

A home tenant tonight who love the joint against the pies, pretty much a sell out should be a good atmosphere.

Crazy but clubs playing home games at their home grounds tends to work.

 

[What else we can do]

I have to be honest, I was surprised with the predictions of ~70,000 for this game during the week. Sure, Friday night and only MCG helps but it was still 3-8 Carlton (yes 2 wins in a row) playing an expected contender in Geelong. 61,000 felt bang on based on what I was thinking. The Bkues are now rolling and their crowds will get a lift but I don’t see 70,000 next week against Essendon either. Essendon are likely entering the game at 1-11 with 16/17 players on its injury list. It’s clawing its way to the end of the year again so I doubt it will draw overly well.

Spot re Blues I thought low 60's during the week.

 

[What else we can do]

From the press conference post game.



Note the comment from 6.00 minutes. “We enjoy coming to Marvel, when we come here we feel it suits our game style and the Hawks fans still turn up.”

This is very different language from Richmond and Melbourne. It’s not surprising that Mitchell doesn’t mind the ground given the Hawks are 11-5 at Marvel under his coaching tenure (and have won the last 8 in a row). He’s 16 from 18 at York Park and 21-22-1 at the MCG. Based on win/loss Hawthorn is a better Marvel team than an MCG team.

You know Hawks better than me but I think your crowd and I mean Hawks crowd only has increased over the last couple of years at Marvel H/A??

 

[AstuteTiger]

I have to be honest, I was surprised with the predictions of ~70,000 for this game during the week. Sure, Friday night and only MCG helps but it was still 3-8 Carlton (yes 2 wins in a row) playing an expected contender in Geelong. 61,000 felt bang on based on what I was thinking. The Bkues are now rolling and their crowds will get a lift but I don’t see 70,000 next week against Essendon either. Essendon are likely entering the game at 1-11 with 16/17 players on its injury list. It’s clawing its way to the end of the year again so I doubt it will draw overly well.

Correct, I said the same during the week to 'what else we can do', high 50's to early 60's, and that's what it was 61K.
No way was this game going to be pushing 70K.

 

[Hawkk]

You know Hawks better than me but I think your crowd and I mean Hawks crowd only has increased over the last couple of years at Marvel H/A??

Since Mitchell took over Hawthorn’s crowds at both venues have grown substantially. For example in 2023 Hawthorn finished 16th and drew crowds comparable with the three peat years — which jumped 15,000 a game from mid 2024. We forget how boring Clarkson was after the 2015 premiership - in fact Hawthorn went a good 2-3 years before Covid where they didn’t kick more than 100 points.

Whilst the Hawks MCG crowds are bigger than Marvel (similar with Essendon and Carlton) I don’t think there is a huge drop off between the stadiums (not like Richmond and Melbourne). Since 2013, the Hawks have played 8 home games at Marvel (not including Covid) and the average is 32,834 I don’t think any of those games would have drawn significantly more at the MCG.

I think the difference is hawthorn can probably see the writing in the wall that they are going to need to play 3-4 home games there a year. Completely disagree they should have to, but it’s the most likely outcome.

So getting fans on board and building the reputation is much more important long term than a Richmond or Collingwood.

On the flip side if Richmond changed their attitude and embraced it, you could see it creeping up to 2-3 home games a year at Marvel which would be in direct contrast to what the members want.

Hobart was/is a strike of genius. Millions in the bank, a game that will probably draw more than Marvel and no member backlash.

I know everyone can’t travel, but I’m looking forward to a long weekend, footy, good food and a game of never of attended at marvel.

I know Richmond fans say this a lot these days but the concept of 11 home games at the MCG was never a thing in the VFL or pre Docklands. Between 1971 and 1999, the Tigers routinely took 2-3 home games to VFL Park and then 1-2 games at Princes Park once the Hawks and Saints became full time tenants. And from 2000 to about 2010, they played a package of 3 home games at Docklands including the infamous Nathan Brown game and the Ben Cousins farewell match which drew 35,000 plus Tigers fans. Until your former coach blamed the stadium on the clubs bad run of form the Tigers had no issues playing home games at Docklands and used to be one of the biggest draw cards for the ground — you even played a few Friday Night home games against MCG co-tenants in the mid 2000’s.

The Hobart money is a short term fix to take advantage of a void left by North Melbourne but it is not a long term strategy. What the AFL and the code needs is more high drawing games at the MCG AND Marvel. They also need to ensure that every club plays at least two games at the MCG (if the AFL is wedded to finals at the MCG) to ensure that every club has the best possible chance in the finals. It’s seems far fetched now but back in the day the VFL had a policy whereby finals featuring MCG co-tenants would be scheduled at Waverley Park to minimise advantage. Obviously that’s no longer possible but the next best thing is to make the ground as neutral as possible.

 

[Hawkk]

Correct, I said the same during the week to 'what else we can do', high 50's to early 60's, and that's what it was 61K.
No way was this game going to be pushing 70K.

Spot re Blues I thought low 60's during the week.

To be fair the Blues were tracking in a similar spot to last year and they were drawing 55,000 to 60,000 against North. Ditto 67,000 vs Melbourne earlier this season. But I take your point

 

[What else we can do]

Since Mitchell took over Hawthorn’s crowds at both venues have grown substantially. For example in 2023 Hawthorn finished 16th and drew crowds comparable with the three peat years — which jumped 15,000 a game from mid 2024. We forget how boring Clarkson was after the 2015 premiership - in fact Hawthorn went a good 2-3 years before Covid where they didn’t kick more than 100 points.

Whilst the Hawks MCG crowds are bigger than Marvel (similar with Essendon and Carlton) I don’t think there is a huge drop off between the stadiums (not like Richmond and Melbourne). Since 2013, the Hawks have played 8 home games at Marvel (not including Covid) and the average is 32,834 I don’t think any of those games would have drawn significantly more at the MCG.


I know Richmond fans say this a lot these days but the concept of 11 home games at the MCG was never a thing in the VFL or pre Docklands. Between 1971 and 1999, the Tigers routinely took 2-3 home games to VFL Park and then 1-2 games at Princes Park once the Hawks and Saints became full time tenants. And from 2000 to about 2010, they played a package of 3 home games at Docklands including the infamous Nathan Brown game and the Ben Cousins farewell match which drew 35,000 plus Tigers fans. Until your former coach blamed the stadium on the clubs bad run of form the Tigers had no issues playing home games at Docklands and used to be one of the biggest draw cards for the ground — you even played a few Friday Night home games against MCG co-tenants in the mid 2000’s.

The Hobart money is a short term fix to take advantage of a void left by North Melbourne but it is not a long term strategy. What the AFL and the code needs is more high drawing games at the MCG AND Marvel. They also need to ensure that every club plays at least two games at the MCG (if the AFL is wedded to finals at the MCG) to ensure that every club has the best possible chance in the finals. It’s seems far fetched now but back in the day the VFL had a policy whereby finals featuring MCG co-tenants would be scheduled at Waverley Park to minimise advantage. Obviously that’s no longer possible but the next big thing is to make the ground as neutral as possible.

I believe Hawks crowds will increase at Marvel the last home game drew 37,000 v Port that is Essendon/Carlton type crowds. That's a record and I think it will continue.

 

[dave10]

Spot re Blues I thought low 60's during the week.

Yep, agree.

My reference was last year Bombers (2 wins outside top 8) played Cats (2nd on ladder) at the MCG and it drew 61,643 so exactly the same number.

History tends to suggest ordinary travelling Big 4 club against strong Cats at MCG in earlier part of season draws 60-68k. Last nights crowd lined up well with similar circumstances in previous years.

 

[Cmarsh]

38k at the scg is excellent for the 1:15pm slot against a bottom 4 side.

 

[dave10]

As expected..

 

[AstuteTiger]

To be fair the Blues were tracking in a similar spot to last year and they were drawing 55,000 to 60,000 against North. Ditto 67,000 vs Melbourne earlier this season. But I take your point

They were still 3-8, that's why I thought early 60's at best.
Had they not won the last two games, it would've been under 60K.

Nonetheless, 61K is still a very good crowd.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Swans V Tigers
Crowd: 38,013 at the SCG

 

[GIMINO]

32,423 at the Gabba

 

[Cmarsh]

32,423 at the Gabba

That would have to be the Lions biggest Gabba crowd vs Fremantle?

 

[WesternSydneyHawk]

I believe Hawks crowds will increase at Marvel the last home game drew 37,000 v Port that is Essendon/Carlton type crowds. That's a record and I think it will continue.

I know for a long time a lot of Hawthorn supporters really had it in for Marvel, because it replaced Waverley Park as an AFL venue. Have the Hawks supporters down there in Melbourne started mellowing out about Marvel?

 

[manicmagpie]

43,430 I think it said at Docklands.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Dogs V Pies (Marvel)
Crowd: 43,430

 

[Sammoll]

Been a great week for crowds so far! Eagles game tomorrow will be big too with the WA day public holiday.
From a crowds POV, it’s a shame that the Dees game is in Alice Springs. That’ll bring the average right down (but of course it’s great for the community that a game is there).

 

[manicmagpie]

You can set your watch by Collingwood/Bulldogs crowds at Docklands.

That’s 4 in a row that are all within about 700 of each other.

 

[largebus]

Been a great week for crowds so far! Eagles game tomorrow will be big too with the WA day public holiday.
From a crowds POV, it’s a shame that the Dees game is in Alice Springs. That’ll bring the average right down (but of course it’s great for the community that a game is there).

Horrible weather in Perth tomorrow so the Eagles game will lose 5-10k