Vote now: Would you want your club to end its premiership drought in 2020?
The thought of winning a premiership with no fans at the game doesn’t sit well with anyone. But could there be a way to get 30,000 people into the MCG on the biggest day of the year? One former great thinks so.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Here is a question for long-suffering Melbourne and St Kilda supporters – how badly do you want to win this year’s premiership?
Beggars can’t be choosers, and it would be folly to suggest anyone would turn down a flag.
As Saints tragic Shane Warne said: “I’ll take one any time”.
But for success-starved members who have spent more than half a century dreaming about losing their premiership virginity, glory in 2020 would be bitter-sweet.
Think of the diehards who have barely missed a beat through decades of mediocrity and have looked on enviously at recent drought-breakers Richmond (2017), Western Bulldogs (2016) and Geelong (2007).
Their turn was supposed to come in similar style, on the last Saturday in September and in front of 100,000 at the MCG.
Relive classic AFL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly
It was supposed to cap a euphoric month, punctuated by weekly pilgrimages to the MCG – or possibly interstate – to witness history unfold.
They’ve been waiting their entire life for this.
Instead, the joys of Grand Final week – the parade, the open training sessions and the buzz about Melbourne – will vanish, with this year’s game set to be played at a locked stadium devoid of atmosphere.
Jude Bolton helped Sydney end football’s longest drought – 72 years – in 2005.
“I’d hate to think of nobody being there,” Bolton said.
“Some of my best memories were being able to celebrate and take an eternity to do a lap with the cup and celebrate with people.
“This year will almost feel like a pre-season cup sort of win. It would be like, ‘Yeah, we’re celebrating’ … but are we really, or not? Is it that asterisk next to it?
“I took a mate to the Grand Final when Richmond broke their drought and he had tears in his eyes. He said, ‘I never need to go to another Grand Final and I’ll die a happy man’.”
It has been argued that this year’s premiership won’t carry an asterisk, because the mental strength required to overcome unprecedented challenges will make it an almighty achievement.
That might ring true for the players, but not for the fans. If no tickets are available it might be the closest feeling to what players outside the 22 experience.
Injured Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy – the extreme example – articulated his emotions on pre-game radio in 2016.
“There’s those little moments you have for yourself where you ache,” Murphy said.
“You’re not where you should be. It’s slivers of sadness amid big chunks of pride.”
MORE AFL
GWS star Heath Shaw reveals what his life has been like since AFL’s shutdown and self-isolation
Relive the night Western Bulldogs ended Essendon’s 20-game winning streak with ‘super flood’
Inside story behind Jim Stynes’ Brownlow Medal winning season of 1991
Bolton wondered whether a small crowd could safely click through the turnstiles.
“I hope we get to a stage where we can responsibly bring at least 30,000 people into the MCG,” he said.
“If they’re ticketed in a way that it’s responsible social distancing for some atmosphere and for some treasured fans of the game.
“Corporates would pay top dollar to be there and then if you say, ‘This family is isolating at home, why can’t they isolate and have just this section of tickets?’.”
But that sounds unlikely, and when teams bow out they might be thinking there’s going to be no party like 2021.
Originally published as Vote now: Would you want your club to end its premiership drought in 2020?