Victorian footy fans kick help AFL break attendance record

VICTORIAN footy fans have helped pushed an all-time AFL crowd record to the brink. Here’s what needs to happen for 2018 to be the best ever year for crowd attendance.

Jason Johannisen thanks Western Bulldogs fans. Picture: Getty Images

THE record for the number of fans attending AFL matches during a home-and-away season will almost certainly be smashed on Saturday.

Just 90,000 fans need to attend the five remaining matches on Saturday and three on Sunday to overtake the record of 6,732,601 set last year.

Victorian fans have led the way as supporters around Australia this year turned out to cheer on their teams like never before.

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AFL figures reveal that Richmond’s bandwagon is bigger than ever in its premiership defence, averaging just over 60,000 fans per home game, a club record.

The Tigers’ drawing power this season ranks second only to Collingwood’s 2010 premiership year in all-time average crowds.

AFL general manager of clubs Travis Auld said the 2018 season had been “exciting and unpredictable’’, and having 6.6 million fans attend the footy across 22 rounds was “remarkable’’.

“Credit to our clubs, stadiums and most importantly the fans who continue to support their teams as passionately as ever,’’ he said.

“We look forward to seeing what the remaining matches of the home-and-away season do to shape the final eight.”

Resurgent Collingwood lured fans back in droves this season, with a Magpie army just shy of 50,000 on average per home game, its highest since 2013.

Jordan DeGoey high fives Collingwood fans. The Pies have averaged almost 50,000 at home games this year. Picture: Getty Images

Fellow finalist Melbourne scored its largest average home crowd since 1964 — when it last won the flag — with about 41,000 fans at home games this season.

Geelong also recorded its fifth-largest crowd average in its history, with about 34,000 per home game.

Despite not making the eight, Essendon had the third-highest Victorian home crowd average this season, 47,000 fans.

Despite missing finals, Essendon was one of the best attended teams this season. Picture: AAP

The MCG, the home of football, saw its highest crowds since 2011.

Total crowd numbers ­before Friday night’s Port Adelaide-Essendon clash were ­already more than for any other VFL or AFL season except last year.

But with five matches on Saturday including Richmond-Western Bulldogs at the MCG, the AFL is confident of setting a new mark sooner rather than later.

Round 23 is billed “Super Round’’, with under-15s ­admitted free to every match.

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