Anzac Day AFL crowd: Pressure mounts on State Government to allow full capacity at MCG

As a decision approaches from the state government, an Essendon legend has called for increased capacity for another Anzac Day event, while a premiership hero has joined the MCG fight.

AFL Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG in Melbourne. Essendon fans celebrating. Picture: Alex Coppel.

The Victorian state government is seriously considering a push for 100 per cent capacity at Anzac Day amid huge public demand for tickets to Sunday’s clash.

It comes as Kevin Sheedy, the father of Anzac Day football, pushed for increased crowds for the Anzac Day march before the league secured full capacity crowds.

The AFL and MCC reserves have sold out for Sunday’s Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon amid expectations of a current crowd of over 70,000.

The State government’s health department has been provided with the results of the AFL’s two-ground ticketing trial, which will expand to all venues in Round 6.

Richmond premiership hero Bachar Houli also has called on the state government to clear the way for a full MCG crowd.

“The more people the better, to be quite honest,’’ he said.

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Premiership hero Bachar Houli has backed a full house on Anzac Day.

Kevin Sheedy has thrown his weight behind the Anzac Day march.

“It creates more of a buzz and more people don’t miss out watching the footy.

“It’s a bit hard trying to open up for everyone but have limited spots at the footy and once we open it up fully everyone gets the chance to enjoy it.’’

After playing away from Victoria to small crowds last year, triple premiership star Houli — whose mum Yamana and several family members contracted COVID-19 last year — said a packed MCG would swell the hearts of players and fans.

“It would be amazing, to be quite honest, just that buzz’’ he said.

“It’s back to normality now, everyone is out there cheering on and getting among it and catching up with friends. It’s just great to see that energy back and people are all smiles.’’

Houli said players longed for the roar of a capacity MCG crowd.

“That’s what makes our game so special — the fact that people get out and enjoy the footy by watching and get right into it,’’ he said.

“For us, we get a buzz out of it as well — hearing the crowd roar and cheer us on.

“It was very different last year, that’s for sure, but this year to have crowds back and hopefully before long we can have all the mad Tigers supporters who missed out watching us back.’’

The AFL is waiting for a State Government ruling on the Anzac Day crowd.

A decision is expected on Thursday but every hurdle has been jumped by Victorian venues who are confident they will provide a COVID-safe venue if capacity is increased to 100,000.

Sheedy told the Herald Sun on Tuesday he believed it was important for increased capacity at the march, which is currently capped at 5500.

“I think it’s important for the (Anzac Day) march and the ceremony at the Shrine (of Remembrance) to have 100 per cent crowds. That is my opinion. It’s important they get the best crowds. Whoever turns up at footy turns up. It’s called common sense. Guys who have been marching have been to the war, so they deserve the first right,” he said.

Every person at the Carlton-Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs-Gold Coast games was required to provide contact details.

The department of health also had observers at the games to assess the trial and the COVID-safe platform provided at the Marvel and MCG contests.

The chief health officer is expected to make a call later in the week, with venues and the AFL keen for full capacity crowds.

Acting premier James Merlino indicated that a highly awaited decision to increase footy crowds to 100 per cent capacity could be made later this week.

“There’s a couple of things that are being considered, obviously in terms of the capacity at the MCG and other stadiums,” he said on Tuesday.

“There’s been strong working collaborations between the AFL and other codes, and our public health team. That’s being assessed by our public health team.

“I’m not in a position to make any announcements today but I can tell you that it’s being assessed and reviewed by public health at the moment.

“We’re having a series of easing of restrictions and that will continue … (but) we are not out of this pandemic, and we won’t be out of it until the Commonwealth’s vaccination program has been successfully rolled out.”

Footy fans pile into Richmond station after an Anzac Day clash.

With AFL crowds down by around 20 per cent, fans continue to complain about being assigned random seats because of social distancing provisions instead of sitting with large groups of friends.

A decision on 100 per cent capacity would come too late in the week to allow fans to sit with friends, but extra tickets would go on sale for general admission.

Mr Merlino was pressed as to why the announcement couldn’t be made earlier in the week, prior to the round beginning.

“When we moved from 50 per cent (capacity) to 75 per cent … it was a bit later in the week when we made that call. I understand that tickets go on sale, but you make the decisions when you’ve got all of the evidence, all of the advice.

“Our public health ultimately make the call and deliver a recommendation to government. We haven’t yet received that. They’re working through the issues, they’re working very well with the AFL.

“Everyone wants to see crowds back, but remember, at 50 per cent and 75 per cent, it’s some of the biggest crowds in the world.”

Queensland, New South Wales and West Australia have all lifted crowd limits, and indoor venues in Victoria are allowed 100 per cent capacity for venues of up to 1000.

Testing commander Jeroen Weimar said AFL crowd numbers were being looked at “very closely”.

“We’re going to assess over the next few days ... It’s a really important thing to get right,” he told 3AW.

He said a series of exercises and reviews had been taking place into how the government would respond to a potential outbreak.

“For us it’s about being confident that if we had to track down a positive case in the MCG that we could get hold of everybody who’s been around them so we can run that outbreak to ground,” Mr Weimar added.