AFL crowds in 2021: Adelaide and Port Adelaide inform members about Adelaide Oval seating plans

Crows and Power fans will be allowed to sit in the front row at Adelaide Oval this season but some some members will be affected by the new seating system.

Fans are set to be allowed to sit in the front row at Adelaide Oval again as the two South Australian club finalise seating arrangements for their members this season.

The Oval will allow 40,000 people for the 2021 AFL season after SA Health signed off on a new COVID-19 management plan after the venue was at 50 per cent - close to 25,000 - during Port Adelaide’s home preliminary final in October and for the cricket season.

Adelaide will be the first to enjoy the increased capacity against Geelong in Round 1 before Port Adelaide has its first home game in Round 2 when the Power hosts Essendon.

In the season opener between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG, 50,000 fans will be allowed in after a deal was brokered for 50 per cent capacity at Melbourne venues.

Both SA clubs this week have begun informing members of how the 75 per cent capacity could impact their seats at Adelaide Oval.

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Crows fans social distancing last year. loss Picture: Sarah Reed

As part of the plan for the upcoming season, club members have been told their seats will be in a “pod” system - with each group to be separated by rows of empty seats.

Port Adelaide has said 82 per cent of its reserved seat members “will not be impacted” by the pod system.

Those who are not affected will be able to sit in their usual seat and use their membership card as per a normal season.

But those who have had their seats affected will be relocated to alternative spots for 2021.

Members who sit in the two front rows have been informed they will not be impacted like they were in 2020, when the AFL tried to create a barrier between fans and players as a precaution.

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Port Adelaide's Charlie Dixon ends up sitting in the stands with Geelong fans during the 2020 Qualifying Final at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

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But some seats in rows A and B will still impacted because of the revised seating map.

Adelaide has also begun to communicate with its members to explain the seating arrangement this season.

It is understood the majority of Crows members will be unaffected by the new seating plan, with everybody to be aware of their situation within the next week.

Essential Crow and Essential Power members will have access to redeem a reserved seat ticket on a game-by-game basis in the Western Stand at no extra cost.

There will be no unreserved seating during the 2021 AFL season, with tickets able to be redeemed until the Western Stand capacity has been reached.

More details, such as the seating map, are expected to be disclosed shortly.