AFL 2021: Traditional ANZAC Day clash could be first game with 100 per cent capacity in Victoria
The crowd caps for Round 1 are locked in, but beyond that remains up in the air. The MCG is ready to snap into action and it could be a blessing for two traditional rivals.
AFL
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The AFL is holding out hopes for a capacity crowd at the MCG for ANZAC Day ahead of a meeting with the Victorian government on Monday to review the strict current spectator caps.
Queensland is set to push ahead with a 100 per cent capacity crowd at the Gabba for Saturday night’s clash between Brisbane and Sydney, but Victorian stadiums have been restricted to 50 per cent capacity for the opening round of the AFL season this weekend.
The difference in the caps of the two states comes despite Queensland having 41 active COVID-19 cases to Victoria’s two, with the southern state having not recorded a new case for 19 consecutive days.
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South Australia, which has 10 more active COVID-19 cases than Victoria, has enforced a 75 per cent crowd cap for Saturday’s clash between Adelaide and Geelong.
However, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said he was “optimistic” Victorian crowds would enjoy a boost from Round 2 if fans played their role and did the right thing this weekend.
“I’m meeting with the appropriate officials on Monday to review the behaviours,” McLachlan said.
“I’m optimistic behaviours of our supporters will be right and if community transmission stays where it is, then the numbers can come up quite quickly.
“I’m just thrilled for everyone who’s going to get the chance to go and see their team’s play.”
Asked if the MCG could be full for Collingwood’s traditional ANZAC Day clash with Essendon on April 25, McLachlan said such a move was not out of the question.
“I would really, really love to have a full house at ANZAC Day,” he said.
Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox said fans attending AFL games this weekend could expect “very, very similar” protocols to the Boxing Day Test last December and the stadium had distanced ticketholders “as best we can”.
Fox said the MCG would be ready to open its doors to as many fans as the state government ticks off for Round 2.
“If someone rings me an hour before, we’re ready to go,” Fox said.
“It’s all about getting people into the ground. So if those numbers increase, we’re ready to go. And we’ve run the numbers for 55, 60, 65, 70 thousand.
“I think Monday morning hopefully we’re talking to the government about a really successful Round 1 and an increase, possibly for Round 2.”
Revealed: MCG beer rules that will apply this season
The Melbourne Cricket Club’s footy-starved members snapped up 25,000 tickets on Monday as the league’s ticket seller survived its first test with only limited delays.
The MCC’s members were able to access 11,500 tickets for each of the MCG contests in Round 1, starting with Thursday’s Richmond-Carlton clash.
Only a few hundred tickets are available for the season opener and about 8000 have been sold for the Collingwood-Western Bulldogs game on Friday night.
The Melbourne-Fremantle game on Saturday sold about 5000 tickets on Monday but tickets sales are expected to build during the week.
It comes as the Herald Sun can reveal the Boxing Day trial that allowed cricket fans to drink alcohol while in their MCC seats will continue until being reviewed again when full capacity returns.
With limited numbers of fans able to dwell in MCC bars, the trial will continue after being successfully implemented in the cricket season.
MCC members desperate to watch their first live football games since the 2019 Grand Final at first complained about delays in logging on through Ticketek’s systems.
But the AFL said there were only minor delays as fans logged onto websites and queued in the old-fashioned manner at the MCG.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox told the Herald Sun on Monday the ticket sales had gone smoothly.
“Demand for tickets this morning was strong, particularly for the first two games, and looking like those two games will reach capacity in the members’ reserved,” he said.
“And we are hopeful the game between Melbourne and Fremantle will continue to sell strongly this week.”
On Tuesday, AFL members will have their chance to secure tickets, with priority one members gaining access at 10am and priority two members allowed to buy tickets from 11am.
Then, home club members will attempt to buy the vast majority of tickets available – up to 27,5000 at the MCG – from 1pm on Tuesday.
By 10am Wednesday, away club members will be desperately hoping some tickets might be left over, with Collingwood to provide 4000 tickets to Western Bulldogs members and Carlton fans given 2000 tickets.
Ticketek calmed the frazzled nerves of MCC members desperate to secure elusive tickets by telling them the site its website was still working.
“Our website is up and running. Other fans are transacting right now,” it stated.
“You will be redirected when a new purchase session opens. Please stay on the queuing page and do not refresh your page.”
Fans will be able to attend the MCG without needing facemasks, but have been told to bring them anyway in case they are in congested areas.
The MCG will be split up into a series of zones to separate fans for contact tracing purposes as the league effectively runs a test round that proves to the state government it can handle crowds of up to 75,000.
HOW TO SECURE YOUR ROUND 1 SEAT
– Chris Cavanagh
Thousands of footy fans are already experiencing delays in buying tickets ahead of the AFL season kicking off on Thursday night.
Tickets go on sale at 9am for MCC members and already the Ticketek site has been swarmed.
A waiting message is greeting many fans with the site telling supporters to sit tight.
“We’re holding you here as thousands of 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fans are on the site right now. Thanks for your patience, please do not refresh this page. We’re checking for the next available slot in …”
MCC members tickets went on sale this morning for all MCG games including Thursday’s season opener between Carlton and Richmond.
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AFL members will have access to tickets from 10am tomorrow while Richmond members can start hunting for tickets from 1pm on Tuesday.
With only about 2000 tickets expected to be left for Carlton members, those fans will have to wait to try their luck on Wednesday at 10am.
It’s the same for the Collingwood v Western Bulldogs match at the MCG on Friday night.
MCC members start the ticket scramble this morning, while Collingwood members have three windows, depending on the level of membership, starting at 1pm tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Richmond captain Trent Cotchin said he would love to have more fans in the stands at the MCG on Thursday night, but is excited to play in front of the biggest crowd the Tigers have had in 18 months regardless.
Pressure is mounting on the Victorian government to lift capacity, with business groups pushing for 75 per cent capacity and Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett saying the ground should be full after a lengthy COVID-free run in the state.
The current cap on crowds for Round 1 games in Victoria is 50 per cent, meaning only 50,000 fans will be allowed to attend the Tigers’ season-opener against Carlton at the MCG.
The biggest crowd Richmond played in front of last year was in the Grand Final at the Gabba, which 29,707 fans attended.
“I know everyone keeps talking that’s it’s a reduced capacity (at the MCG), but it’s actually more than we had at the Grand Final last year,” Cotchin said.
“So it’s incredibly exciting for us and hopefully we fill as many seats as we are allowed to.
“As long as there’s safety measures in place and everyone feels safe to attend and support and cheer loud as they normally do, the more the merrier. We obviously both have big fan bases and we want to get as many of those in there watching what they love watching.”
Richmond and Carlton drew a Round 1 crowd of 85,016 people when they met in 2019, Cotchin saying that playing in front crowds of that size felt like a long time ago.
“We’ve sort of forgotten exactly how loud both of our crowds can be,” he said.
“That (an increased crowd) would be incredibly exciting and the ‘G, for whatever reason, always has that extra little bit of a buzz and sends chills down the back of your spine as well.”
THE AFL has released all that you need to know about getting a ticket to see your club for Round 1.
Thursday March 18
Richmond v Carlton, MCG
Current capacity: 50,000
Ticketing agent: ticketek.com.au
On-sale times
Monday March 15 9:00am: MCC Members
Tuesday March 16 10:00am: AFL Members
Priority 1: from 10:00am
Priority 2: from 11:00am
Tuesday March 16 1:00pm: Richmond Members*
Wednesday March 17 10:00am: Carlton Members
Wednesday March 17 1:00pm: General Public (subject to availability)
* all other eligible Richmond members were able to register for tickets via the Club
Friday March 19
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, MCG
Current capacity 50,000
Ticketing agent: ticketek.com.au
On-sale times
Monday March 15 9:00am: MCC Members
Tuesday March 16 10:00am: AFL Members
Priority 1: from 10:00am
Priority 2: from 11:00am
Tuesday March 16 1:00pm: Collingwood Members
Priority 1: from 1:00pm
Priority 2: from 3:00pm
Priority 3: from 5:00pm
Wednesday March 17 10:00am: Western Bulldogs Members
Wednesday March 17 1:00pm: General Public (subject to availability)
Saturday March 20
Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG
Current capacity 50,000
Ticketing agent: ticketek.com.au
On-sale times
Monday March 15 9:00am: MCC Members
Tuesday March 16 10:00am: AFL Members
Priority 1: from 10:00am
Priority 2: from 11:00am
Tuesday March 16 1:00pm: Melbourne Members
Priority 1: from 1:00pm
Priority 2: from 3:00pm
Priority 3: from 5:00pm
Wednesday March 17 10:00am: Fremantle Members
Wednesday March 17 1:00pm: General Public (subject to availability)
Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval
Current capacity 40,000
Ticketing agent: ticketek.com.au
On-sale times
Adelaide Crows and Adelaide Oval Football Members Western Stand Presale
Monday 15 March, 10:00am (ACDT) / 10:30am (AEDT)
Adelaide Crows Season General Admission members
Wednesday 17 March, 11:00am (ACDT) / 11:30am (AEDT)
Adelaide Crows 3 game members
Wednesday 17 March, 2:00pm (ACDT) / 2:30pm (AEDT)
General Public (subject to availability)
Thursday 18 March, 1:00pm (ACDT) / 1:30pm (AEDT)
Eligible Geelong Cats members will receive information on how to purchase from their exclusive allocation from the Club
Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium
Current capacity 28,961
Ticketing agent: ticketmaster.com.au
On-sale times
Tuesday March 16, 10:00am: AFL Members
Priority 1: from 10:00am
Priority 2: from 11:00am
Tuesday March 16, 1:00pm: Essendon Members
Priority 1: from 1:00pm
Priority 2: from 3:00pm
Priority 3: from 5:00pm (if required)
Wednesday March 17, 10:00am: Hawthorn Members
Wednesday March 17, 1:00pm: General Public (subject to availability)
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba
Current capacity 39,202
Ticketing agent: ticketmaster.com.au
On-sale times
General Public tickets on-sale now
Sunday March 21
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium
Current capacity 28,961
Ticketing agent: ticketmaster.com.au
On-sale times
Tuesday March 16, 10:00am: AFL Members
Priority 1: from 10:00am
Priority 2: from 11:00am
Tuesday March 16, 1:00pm: North Melbourne Members
Priority 1: from 1:00pm
Priority 2: from 3:00pm
Priority 3: from 5:00pm (if required)
Wednesday March 17, 10:00am: Port Adelaide Members
Wednesday March 17, 1:00pm: General Public (subject to availability)
GWS GIANTS v St Kilda, GIANTS Stadium
Current capacity 14,521
Ticketing agent: ticketmaster.com.au
On-sale times
General Public on-sale 12:00pm Thursday, March 11
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast SUNS, Optus Stadium
Current capacity (Final figure TBC)
Ticketing agent: ticketmaster.com.au
On-sale times
To be confirmed in coming days
For the early part of the season, tickets to matches will be released on a week by week basis.
Round Two on-sale dates will be released at the conclusion of Round One.
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