MCC releases its five Category 1 games for 2018 AFL season

THE MCC has named the five games it believes will be closest to capacity in 2018 — releasing its list of Category 1 matches for the season ahead.

Anzac Day is among the Category 1 games.

THE MCC has listed the five games it believes will be closest to capacity in 2018.

The handful of games have been listed as Category 1 matches, meaning provisional MCC members will not be able to use their membership cards to enter such games.

Both the Anzac Day Eve and Anzac Day games are among the five matches listed, as well as Richmond and Carlton’s annual Thursday night season-opener.

A pair of other traditional fixtures — including Dreamtime at the ‘G and the Queen’s Birthday match — round out the five games.

The matches listed made up five of the six highest attended MCG games in 2017, with Essendon and Collingwood’s Anzac Day clash recording the highest crowd figure.

The other fixture — not included in the MCC Category 1 games — was Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, where its suspended players made their long-awaited returns.

THE FIVE CATEGORY 1 GAMES

Round 1: Richmond v Carlton (Season Opener)

Round 5: Melbourne v Richmond (Anzac Day Eve)

Round 5: Collingwood v Essendon (Anzac Day)

Round 11: Essendon v Richmond (Dreamtime at the ‘G)

Round 12: Melbourne v Collingwood (Queen’s Birthday)

HIGHEST ATTENDED HOME AND AWAY GAMES IN 2017

1. Essendon v Collingwood (Anzac Day) — 87,685

2. Richmond v Melbourne (Anzac Day Eve) — 85,657

3. Richmond v Essendon (Dreamtime at the ‘G) — 85,656

4. Essendon v Hawthorn (Round 1) — 78,294

5. Carlton v Richmond (Season Opener) — 73,137

Originally published as MCC releases its five Category 1 games for 2018 AFL season