AFL finals news: Stay up to date with the latest crowd and fixture news this week
The number of people allowed into Adelaide Oval has been given a big increase, with another 5000 for this weekend’s finals.
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The permitted crowd at Adelaide Oval has been increased to 20,000 for this weekend’s pair of qualifying finals.
Premier Steven Marshall made the announcement on Thursday morning.
“I have been advised we will have 20,000 people at Friday night’s game and Saturday night’s game,” he said.
“I know it is something fans will absolutely love to hear.’’
Earlier in the week, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan delivered a dagger to Adelaide’s chances of hosting the grand final, if the MCG can’t, with Perth confirmed as the league’s back-up option.
But McLachlan did say he was bullish the capacity at Adelaide Oval for Friday night’s clash between Port Adelaide and Geelong and then Melbourne and Brisbane on Saturday night would be increased from its current number of 15,000.
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“I’m reluctant to speak on behalf of the state governments and state health officers, I know these things are decisions that are monitored every day,” he said.
“So I think there is a possibility that capacities get increased before Friday but that depends on the case numbers here (in Victoria) and the decisions of the South Australian Government.
“I won’t speak for them any more than that.”
Mr Marshall said during the week he thought an increase to the cap was unlikely, even though thousands of Port fans missed out on tickets for the qualifying final.
On Tuesday he left the door slightly ajar for the possibility.
“We are keen to get as many people into Adelaide Oval as possible especially for the Friday night game,” he said.
“But we also have to be mindful of the risk, that risk hasn’t changed in the last 24 hours.
“But we are still looking at it … I know there are a lot of people who were disappointed that they couldn’t get a ticket for Friday night’s match.”
McLachlan revealed that Perth won out over Adelaide because of capacity, with Optus Stadium allowed to have a full crowd.
But Adelaide Oval still could host a preliminary final, if Port Adelaide do beat Geelong on Friday night.
“It will depend on the winners,” McLachlan said of where the preliminary finals will be.
This means the Power and Lions could have home advantage if they win this week.
NUMBER OF SA FANS WHO CAN ATTEND FINALS REVEALED
South Australian premier Steven Marshall had said was unlikely there would be a crowd increase for the two finals matches at Adelaide Oval this week.
Adelaide Oval will host two qualifying finals matches this weekend after the AFL prioritised fans over home ground advantage.
Port Adelaide will take on Geelong on Friday night and then on Saturday night Melbourne and Brisbane will face off.
The Power had hoped that authorities would increase the crowd cap for their match against the Cats on Friday night.
Port chief executive Matthew Richardson had hoped Adelaide Oval would have a crowd of close to 50 per cent for the match – which was the cap on crowds in last year’s finals.
Tickets for the first week of finals will go on sale on Monday.
Club and AFL members can buy tickets from Ticketek from 2pm.
General public sales are to be advised for the Power game and go on sale for the other games from 5pm.
The AFL on Monday announced a price freeze on all tickets, for all matches across weeks one and two of the 2021 finals series.
After a subsequent price freeze in 2018, 2019 and 2020, the AFL continues its commitment to affordability by freezing tickets nationally, across all games and venues in weeks one and two.
The entry level reserved seat category for weeks one and two will remain at $35.
Auld said the league remained in discussions with the Victorian, West Australian and South Australian governments about the Grand Final venue, but was yet to make any firm decisions about moving the big game from the MCG.
“It’s five weeks away, the Grand Final,” Auld said.
“But if you think back from that to prepare ourselves for a prelim final and work back from there, we’ve got less time than it might feel like to make that decision. So I’d like to think in the coming days we’d have a view on where the Grand Final will be played.”
Auld said Queensland also remained an option for the Grand Final if it was required.
He said the start time of the Grand Final was also to be determined and would depend on which state it would be held in.
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