At the time, Treasurer Tim Pallas said scrapping the pandemic-induced crowd caps signalled Victoria was returning to COVID normal. IN great news for local AFL fans, Waikerie's wildly popular Viewpoint Caf is officially aboard the 2023 Murray Pioneer AFL Footy Tipping Competition bandwagon. Read on. Thursday night at the MCG was the highest attended game ever between Melbourne and Brisbane (37,728), while it was the largest crowds for both Carlton hosting Fremantle (35,441) and Geelong hosting . Went to a Hawks game in Launie, a cold, wet wintry day, was around 11,000 I think. Hopefully we can recapture what we didnt quite get to experience from the lounge room. Third-gamerDurdingrabbed a vital score, then new recruit from Sydney, George Hewett added another as the roar built from Blues fans. Australia's athlete Power Rankings: Who are our most influential stars? As winter nears, its often cheaper and easier to stay home, turn up the heater and turn down the sound. Im just hoping for a very close game, really - a good contest. (Getty Images) North Melbourne coach David Noble has pleaded with the fanbase to turn up this weekend after speculation of a record-low crowd in attendance for the match against GWS this. Brisbane v Fitzroy at the Gabba 1993. You can read more of Rohan Connolly's work at FOOTYOLOGY.com.au, Not just COVID: Crowd drop-off on the AFL, broadcasters too, The enduring magnetism of Scott Pendlebury, AFL preseason: 2023 practice match results, North's Thomas enjoys small court room win, Sydney coach John Longmire inks new AFL deal, Hawks confirm Lions flag pair as AFLW recruits, Fagan contract extension a show of faith from Lions, AFL goes from three to four field umpires in '23, Saints' Membrey no certainty for season opener, Selwood to help Melbourne through stormy period, ESPN's 2023 crystal ball predictions for all major Australian codes, ESPN's biggest Australian headlines of 2022. Its very difficult to take your family in those temperatures., MCG crowd: 21,757Lowest Richmond crowd at the venue (outside of COVID) since August 2010 v Adelaide. While the AFL was hoping the first full-capacity fixture at the ground since 2019 could attract about 80,000 people, the MCG confirmed late in the final quarter that 58,002 attended. At last year's do, former Howard government adviser-turned-Willard Public Affairs lobbyist David Miles put up more than $10,000 at the charity auction to win a game of snooker with the PM. His son, Billy Wigmore, 13, was most excited just to get among the crowd. Weve just flown in now, Nigel Stafford said. Were working to restore it. There were injury problems for Richmond Dion Prestia went down the race early in the second term with a hamstring problem and a few minutes later he was subbed out for Hugo Ralphsmith. Ticketing this year, thanks to COVID, has been something of a nightmare, and clearly has taken some toll. COVID still a factor? Carlton attacked to start the last, but the Blues couldn't convert and then at the other end Bolton appeared to have clinched the win when he kicked his third. Investment in the game. Growth of other sports impacting on AFL participation and talent. They talk about general admission being cheap, but if you want to sit in the good seats it can get very expensive, she told 9 News Melbourne. Nope they were about 7-9k most games in 1992-1994 years. Why are the Melbourne supporters not turning up? If attendance for Thursday night's game is close to capacity, it will comfortably be the biggest sports crowd in Australia since 86,174 fans attended the MCG for the Women's T20 World Cup. Join a tipping comp - lots to choose from. And yet it's one we appear to have been slow to diagnose and seemingly uncertain how to rectify. For Christian Petracca to have to blame the weather, it didnt worry the Carlton and Collingwood fans the previous week (where 80,627 fans packed in at the MCG).. Crowds arrive at the MCG on Wednesday evening. Getting everyone together, I think thats important; to get out and enjoy [it], Ms Dal Ben said. They drew more than 25,000 fans but that was played at Stadium Australia. The last time GWS drew a crowd of more than 10,000 to a home game at Giants Stadium was back in 2019 for the elimination final against the Western Bulldogs. Even though Covid no longer leads the nightly news, there has been a distinct shift in how we live, work, travel and connect. It looks horrible when no ones there. Last month, AFLFA president Cheryl Critchley confessed that dwindling crowd numbers has become an ongoing issue for the league. These days, every game is live and in high definition. In addition, Viewpoint Caf . I think examples like those are pretty telling evidence there is. What I understood more when the game returned was that while I had actually missed the football itself, I hadn't missed a lot of the increasingly large circuses which surround it, the saturation media coverage, the clickbait and the endless puffing of chests and stroking of egos in the former player cartel which now is the face of much of that coverage. It may not display this or other websites correctly. If that was North Melbourne, we would be sitting here saying: this is a club under pressure. Theres always been dickheads at the football, and theyve always been a tiny minority, but theres been some nasty incidents recently. Greater Western Sydney v Gold Coast. 4014. Inflation, interest rates, and petrol prices are rising, and Australians are tightening their belts. During his first season in 2021, Armstrong was the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS. Managing director Gary Brown said it would usually have about 3000 workers on hand for a full-capacity event at the MCG, but the business expected to be a few hundred people short on Wednesday. Just keep the throttle down and keep trying to drive the game up. Wouldnt surprise me if a lot of people stayed away due to the weather. While AFL audiences have increased by 15 percent on pay TV and streaming service Kayo compared to 2019, free-to-air TV numbers in metropolitan markets are down around five per cent on figures from two years ago. And it doesn't appear to be simply a case of more people who did go now watching on TV, either. Carlton cut off another Richmond foray and chipped the ball to Sam Docherty in the middle. Which makes that free-to-air drop more significant. Not to mention the media outlets facilitating that trend in the I think misguided belief the football public is hanging on their every word, many of those words regurgitated faithfully in the several other outlets for whom they work. One of the aesthetically best games of the year to watch.. Carlton has beaten Richmond in round one for the first time in a decade, producing a big final-quarter comeback to givenew coach Michael Voss a winning start with a 25-point victory at a packed MCG. 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Across the board, crowd attendance at NRL games struggle to reach even half the number of those at the AFL. Is it Carlton's year? The Blues midfield had a big impact, withKennedy picking up touches, Cripps and Adam Cerra had 30 disposals each and the Blues won the clearances 40-22. Had a great day - the cans went down very well and I got the courage up that night to ask a woman out who I'd been getting friendly with. Maybe not, fam. Funnily enough, McGuire's hypothesis, which could well be a self-fulfilling prophecy if the AFL continues to schedule the showpiece games away from afternoon timeslots, wasn't exactly supported by the evidence last Saturday, when more than 31,000 people turned up to the SCG for Sydney's clash with Collingwood, but just 18,798 to watch reigning premier Richmond play under the roof at Marvel Stadium later that night. Send us feedback or report a mistake on this page. His teammates ran in and swamped the veteran. On mobile, tap the 3 dots beside your profile picture and select "change user flair", Press J to jump to the feed. Greater Western Sydney drew just over 6000 people to their big clash with the Western Bulldogs, in a figure that would be alarming for the AFL according to Nick Riewoldt. . No GA, certain allocation for MCC/AFL members only, minimum ticket price $70. In the process, weve sacrificed silence the condition of not being addressed.. Following Wednesdays season opener, Carlton will square off against Richmond on Thursday, before St Kilda take on Collingwood on Friday. Only 21,757 fans walked through the gates, making it the lowest home crowd for the Tigers at the MCG since 2010 not including the 2020 and 2021 seasons that were marred by Covid-19 restrictions. 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On his last Australian tour, Ed Sheeran sold more than a million concert tickets, breaking the previous record set by Dire Straits in 1986 when they sold 950,000 tickets. That should have both the AFL and Seven a little concerned. Total crowds from rounds one to eight this season compared to the same period in 2019 (the last "normal" football year) were down by more than 737,000 people, an average of about 8000 per game. While the Demons were tested, the 2021 premiers rose to the challenge to beat the Western Bulldogs by 26 points. People have seen the other option. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Armstrong, 29, spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Southern Miss. For the first time in 50-odd years on a weekend between late March and June, I did other things. Clearly they (the AFL) would be disappointed with those numbers. The first of these was founded in 1986, and played its first official games in the 1987 season, running for 22 consecutive seasons until going bankrupt following the 2008 season. Can't possibly remember a specific one. Like when Fox Footy's "On The Couch" talks about redrafting the schedule so no games cross over (for TV viewing purposes), then in the next breath wonders why crowds might be down. You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. at the MCG Richmond vs Brisbane Bears in 1989 or so. and I remember this being reported as the lowest post-war crowd for the MCG on record. North Melbourne legend David King continued: It was freezing. early 44,000 people were at the MCG on Sunday, a reasonable turnout on a stinker of a day. Carlton beat Richmond by 25 points at the MCG in winning start to Michael Voss' time as coach, Follow the live scorecard of Australia's third Test against Indiain Indore. Ticketing this year, thanks to COVID, has been something of a nightmare, and clearly has taken some toll. Funnily enough, McGuire's hypothesis, which could well be a self-fulfilling prophecy if the AFL continues to schedule the showpiece games away from afternoon timeslots, wasn't exactly supported by the evidence last Saturday, when more than 31,000 people turned up to the SCG for Sydney's clash with Collingwood, but just 18,798 to watch reigning premier Richmond play under the roof at Marvel Stadium later that night. Round Table: Who is Melbourne's most important player? Share 04:00 . The Giants biggest home crowd came in Round 1 against crosstown rivals Sydney. Now I'm imagining them feeding G-train pies like Homer got fed donuts in hell, I thought the G-Train eats segment was only at our home games, Me and my mate were gonna go but they didn't sell any GA tickets which I had assumed meant members had taken them all up. Richmond responded in the second half, upping the pressure levels with Lynch kicking a goalfour minutes in. Australia has been relatively successful at. Super Bowl 57 was the first in 25 years to have both teams open the game with touchdown drives. At football games, youre constantly being addressed, constantly being shouted at, constantly implored to make some noise, have a punt, buy a jeep, kiss your partner, stuff your face, or sink some piss. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. And pay TV? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Apparently, because people now prefer to watch school sport or play golf on a Saturday, and watch the games on TV. Join FREE and support Australia's favourite footy community. Even in the digital age, you just swiped your membership card and plonked yourself down. St Kilda supporters I dont really blame after a poor season. Melbourne supporters Nathan Wigmore with his two sons Max and Billy. Because I suspect there's a convergence of factors at play. Ah, the good old days. Is there a growing AFL "bubble" in which the privileged operate seemingly more and more oblivious to the wants and needs of the rank-and-file football fan? The early rounds in Melbourne were played before only 50 percent capacity crowds, while two games in Perth (including a Derby) have been "lockouts". this is what half-time at the football used to sound like. Heres author Matthew Crawford on the attention economy: Lately, our self-appointed disrupters have opened up a new frontier of capitalism, complete with its own frontier ethic: to boldly dig up and monetise every bit of private head space by appropriating our collective attention. To his credit, when McLachlan was appointed CEO, he went to great lengths to freeze the price of general admission tickets. The last time the MCG hosted a crowd of more than 101,000 people was when Hawthorn defeated Carlton in the 1986 VFL grand final. But their loyalties and devotion can no longer be taken for granted. I think examples like those are pretty telling evidence there is. Have the Tigers over-achieved? Any reason why the crowd was so low? The crowd roared as the Blues defender, who has recovered from two bouts of testicular cancer to make it on to the field for round one, went back and kicked truly from 30 metres out. Ranking every AFL after-the-siren winning goal since 2000, AFLW as a side hustle: How work, life and everything is impacted. It comes under a new COVID-safe plan approved by the state government, with masks required to be worn when fans are moving around venues, but not while they are seated outdoors. Presented by The Golden Ticket - For Medallion Club tickets and Corporate Box tickets at the MCG and Marvel. Having made some key additions to their squad, the Brisbane Lions must make this years AFL grand final to avoid a disappointing season. I didnt even bother trying to redeem my ticket for tonights game because I just figured the allocation would just sell out with crowd limits so small. AFL 2023 fixture: Five must-watch games in the early rounds, How 'Demon spirit' brings out the best of Tayla Harris, AFL Draft - The top 10 prospects for 2023, AFL Draft 2022 - Every club's draft haul rated. Unfortunately there are a lot of people for whatever reason that are finding it more comfortable to be on their couches at the moment.. The Club will communicate directly with all Members on Tuesday night in regards to ticketing and game access as it relates to different membership categories. And while some of them are fixable, others are a bigger issue that won't be solved merely by some "value added" for fans to actually go to games, or even to turn on their TV sets. You cant take kids to the footy in that temperature. A fortnight ago, a man allegedly had his skull fractured by a didgeridoo. It is concerning for the AFL a big rivalry game, he said on Fox Footys On the Couch. Nonetheless, that is still a considerable drop-off. Fyfe fires up forward as Dockers shut down Power. But speaking on Channel 9s Footy Classified, veteran reporter Caroline Wilson rubbished the two-time All-Australians pathetic excuse. I was called on this today on radio, Garry Lyon explained. Please try again later. But thats why its an alarming one because the Bulldogs and (Giants) have developed a really good rivalry in recent years.. Here are some of the possible major contributing factors. Try 14-Days Free Now >. Quick look, each year there more games with less than 10k crowds than 10k+ crowd games. The Arena Football League ( AFL) can refer to one of three successive professional indoor American football leagues in the United States. AFL 2023: ESPN's way-too-early predictions - Can the Cats go again? From the seventeenth century to present times, there has been a continuous debate over the role of the school in creating social classes and providing for social mobility. Hawthorn vs Fitzroy 1996 at the Western Oval - 10,239. Weve seen [the memorial] on the news and all the gifts and we wanted to pay our respects, Jeroen said. In the case of the 1976 SANFL Grand Final, the official crowd of 66,987 was the number of tickets sold, but when the SANFL ran out they opened Football Park's gates for free and the crowd grew by an estimated 15,000.. Largest Crowd outside an Australian capital city - 49,109 (). Melbourne and GWS currently hold the unwanted record, attracting a crowd of just 8,974 at what was then known as Etihad Stadium in Round 23, 2015 the lowest attendance at the Docklands venue in its 22-year history. Still married to her. Can anyone confirm this? 17,644 - Collingwood vs Gold Coast (Round 22 2016). Theyre playing great footy at the moment the Giants under Spike McVeigh. Particularly when in Melbourne, until last weekend, they were unable to sit in the reserved seats they usually occupied, and in some cases, had to pay more to sit elsewhere. Clarke reportedly received 30 tickets for his debut, and his family were going berserk in the stands. After his milestone was announced to the TD Garden crowd, he capped the ensuing possession with a 3-pointer to put Boston in front 16-5. Is it possible more hardcore AFL fans are choosing to watch from home instead of going, while at the same time fewer casual supporters of the code are either turning up in person or watching games on the Seven network? Navigating Ticketek, particularly for blockbuster games and for those trying to secure multiple tickets, can be a one-way trip to the nuthouse and the poorhouse. Ed Sheeran lit up the stage in front of a 107,000-strong crowd on Thursday night.Rick Clifford. Jan 14, 2020. Saw Adelaide vs St Kilda at Waverley one day - ended in a draw, and there was as many Adelaide people there on a bus trip as Saints fans. Speaking to KIIS 101.1 radio on Monday, Demons premiership player Christian Petracca blamed Melbournes cold weather for the sports lacklustre crowds. When Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes flanked the AFL CEO at the TV rights announcement in 2015, the priority for the moguls was eyeballs on screens, not bums on seats. But, arguably, the football has been far superior to that played half a decade ago, when crowd numbers peaked. Meanwhile, the Tigers have unearthed another star, with 18-year-old wunderkind Judson Clarke booting two goals with his first two kicks in the AFL during Thursdays 12-point triumph over Port Adelaide. Last Week around the Leagues. Id imagine that every Victorian whos been through a lot - and I think we can all collectively say that weve been through a lot - would be looking forward to the opportunity to watch the footy in a crowd, Mr Pallas said. Just sitting there with it in front of you, he said. So Melbourne supporters didnt even turn up, nor did they turn up for the top-of-the-table clash the week before, 29,000, she said. A record crowd at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in April showed Melbourne is finally back to embracing major sporting events and there have now been five AFL crowds at the MCG this season with more than 70,000 fans in attendance. There were 47,000 at Optus Stadium too, but AFL crowds, on average, are the lowest they have been since 1996. As a result, its virtually impossible to have a conversation with the person next to you. Thursday night football made its long-awaited return this week, but nobody remembered to tell Richmonds expansive supporter base. But by the ever-present suspicion that to those who run the game or who broadcast the game -- who often come across as a little mutual back-slapping society -- the viewers are just the riff-raff who will lap up what they are offered, along with a dollop of condescension, no questions asked. Well, Kayo has made Fox Footy's coverage more accessible and affordable, but the take-up rate of pay TV in this country has always hovered around just 30 percent, much lower than other countries. Across eight home matches this season, the Sky Blues attracted 141.508 fans at an average of 17,689 per game. 5,241 for the 2010 St Kilda Vs Fremantle NAB cup semi final. The current Arena league doesn't prohibit player-owners, but Antonio . AFL. Two more goals before the end made the final minutes more than comfortable for Carlton. Not sure who to pick in your team? You are using an out of date browser. Quick look, each year there more games with less than 10k crowds than 10k+ crowd games. Round Table: What was the moment of the AFLW Grand Final? There's a number of factors that contribute to their attendance compared to league. New to Kayo? You must log in or register to reply here. I would have gone if the trip home didn't involve a railway bus. AFLW 2023: ESPN's way-too-early predictions - North's time to shine? Umm because you're actively enticing people to stay home and watch on TV, perhaps? In line with Covid-19 protocol, attendance will be capped at 15,000. Delaware North, which provides catering at major sporting grounds including the MCG, flagged ahead of the match it had been struggling to recruit enough staff. Theyre moving the footy, it was a shootout. I think the same thing apparently gws crowd numbers are 100% accurate lol as the AFL figures get audited. And pay TV? Even, heaven forbid, took in the odd bit of art and culture. Looked terrible in a 75K seat stadium. Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn. This honour belongs to American evangelist Billy Graham, who in 1959 attracted an estimated crowd of more than 130,000 (some estimates go as high as 143,750), many of whom had spilled onto the arena. Is it possible more hardcore AFL fans are choosing to watch from home instead of going, while at the same time fewer casual supporters of the code are either turning up in person or watching games on the Seven network? *Odds are current as of 4th March 2023, 6:37pm AEST, The GWS Giants leave the field after a loss. It's important here to note the impact that COVID-19 continues to have on the competition. Full crowds back at Victorian AFL venues to begin season 2022 ESPN You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. For the first time in 50-odd years on a weekend between late March and June, I did other things. Its convenient. Really poor crowd, Thursday night footy, cold but didnt look like it was wet, former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes said on SEN Breakfast. But the solutions may not be so easy to come by. The crowd on the weekend was really disappointing. But in the 80s and 90s I became a bit of a football nomad and went to quite a few neutral games (well, there wasn't much point watching Richmond then).