AFL 2021: AFL banking on having the SCG rocking for the Queen’s Birthday blockbuster

The AFL is expecting a strong turnout for its relocated Queen’s Birthday match at the SCG in Sydney, but a special offer to fans could really knock the NRL off its perch.

The AFL has launched a two-for-one ticket offer in a bid to boost crowd numbers for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday match at the SCG as it prepares to go head to head with the NRL in the Harbour City.

The league is hoping for a crowd well in excess of 15,000 for its showpiece match between Melbourne and Collingwood, which was forced to be relocated from the MCG amid Victoria’s latest COVID-19 lockdown.

Almost 14,000 tickets had already been sold for the match as of Thursday afternoon.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons are set to face off in the NRL on the same day at Stadium Australia in their own traditional Queen’s Birthday clash.

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Demons coach Simon Goodwin and his troops will be hoping they can get a big crowd to the SCG on Monday.

However, in 2019 that fixture drew only 16,003 supporters through the gates, meaning the AFL could beat the NRL in the battle for a crowd in rugby league heartland on Monday.

In addition to the AFL’s new two-for-one ticket offer, some footy fans in Sydney have been able to book up to four free reserved seats for the match as part of ticket giveaways.

The moves from the AFL to boost the crowd come after only 3772 fans attended last Friday night’s Round 12 clash between Melbourne and Brisbane at Giants Stadium.

Last Sunday’s match between Carlton and West Coast at the SCG saw a slightly better turnout of 5137 supporters.

Collingwood last night confirmed it had 3664 signed-up members who reside in New South Wales, while Melbourne said it had about 1400 Sydney-based members.

Melbourne and the AFL did a deal with the NSW government for the SCG to host the game, with the Demons having been determined to play in front of as many fans as possible instead of at an empty MCG.

The match will also be Nathan Buckley’s last as Collingwood coach after he and the Magpies announced on Wednesday that they would be parting ways next week.

Just 3772 fans attended last Friday night’s Round 12 clash between Melbourne and Brisbane at Giants Stadium.

The Queen’s Birthday match doubles as a major fundraiser for former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher’s FightMND charity.

The Big Freeze slide — which sees AFL identities take the plunge into a pool of icy water — will remain at the MCG and be incorporated as part of the television broadcast as well as being beamed into the SCG.

Between 2017 and 2019, the Queen’s Birthday game attracted an average crowd of 76,160 to the MCG.

To access the two-for-one ticket offer, use the password BIGFREEZE when purchasing tickets via Ticketek.

Neale Daniher with daughter Bec Daniher ahead of the major fundraiser at the Queen’s Birthday clash. Picture: David Caird

Sheeds: Why Sydney can save the AFL season

AFL great and visionary Kevin Sheedy believes Sydney is the prime candidate to become the newest home of AFL in the face of ongoing Covid dramas in Victoria.

NSW looms as the likely destination for the next AFL hub but the city will be put to the test this weekend when it hosts three matches, including Friday night’s blockbuster between Melbourne and Brisbane.

“Melbourne has only been beaten once very unfortunately in a close game and Brisbane got beaten in the preliminary (final) last year and want to get there again,’’ said Sheedy, who is back in the Harbour City this week.

“They’ve got a fantastic coach and he’s just a kick or two off a grand final.

“I’m going tomorrow night to see the two best teams in the AFL at present and wouldn’t be surprised if they are the two grand final teams.”

Kevin Sheedy says Sydney is best placed to save the AFL season.

The inaugural GWS Giants coach helped play a role in building the game in a rugby league-dominated state and is confident NSW is more than capable of managing a hub for Victorian clubs.

“Why wouldn’t you make it a hub, you’ve got the biggest population. I think Sydney is the perfect place,” Sheedy said.

“It would be great to have a lot of teams here in Sydney which would promote our games enormously.”

Three matches scheduled for Round 12 have been relocated and as a result of a Covid altered fixture and the Swans will play at home instead of Marvel Stadium.

They’ll look to make the SCG a fortress again and take advantage of their three consecutive home games starting with St Kilda this Saturday afternoon.

The Swans have released cheaper ticket bundles (four for $99) in an attempt to fill the stands.

Carlton will also return to the SCG and line up against West Coast Eagles after losing their clash to the Swans there only five days ago.

The Swans are set to benefit from the fixture changes. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sheedy hopes Sydney AFL fans will make the most of the extra games and sees the benefits in lowering ticket prices for new matches.

“Stadiums are lonely when they are empty,” Sheedy said.

“I would do anything to work on the ticket sales to make sure that we get chances to fill the stadiums and see fantastic sport played by everybody.”

With the Demons and Lions expected to go deep into the finals series this year, Sydney-siders are gifted with the chance to witness a potential grand final preview on their own turf.

“To have an extra game where two teams are on top of the AFL ladder is incredible to be played here in Sydney this Friday night,” Sheedy said.

“It’s an AFL mid-season grand final and I don’t know whether Sydney people understand that.”