St Kilda expecting less than 16,000 fans at Etihad Stadium against GWS

ST KILDA is bracing for a low turnout at Etihad Stadium for Saturday’s clash with ladder-leaders GWS, but Collingwood and Essendon are on track to draw a bumper Anzac Day crowd.

The Saints are expecting a low turnout at Etihad Stadium for Saturday’s clash against the Giants. Picture: Michael Klein

ST KILDA is bracing for a crowd of less than 16,000 for Saturday’s clash with ladder-leaders Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

The Saints and Giants pulled a modest 21,160 fans through the gates when they faced off under the Friday night lights in Round 7 last season.

But St Kilda’s new stadium arrangement with the AFL means the club will still make money this weekend.

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Melbourne and GWS pulled a crowd of just 8974 at Etihad Stadium in Round 23, 2015 — the lowest attendance at the Docklands ground since it opened 18 years ago.

The next worst Etihad Stadium attendance was 12,542 for a Western-Bulldogs Fremantle match in 2003.

Bottom-placed Carlton host second-placed West Coast at the MCG at 4.35pm on Saturday but are hopeful of a crowd of about 26,000.

The Melbourne Cricket Club said Collingwood and Essendon were on track to pull 90,000-plus fans to Wednesday weeks’ Anzac Day blockbuster.

The Pies and Bombers are coming off impressive Round 4 wins.

The Saints are expecting a low turnout at Etihad Stadium for Saturday’s clash against the Giants. Picture: Michael Klein

A Collingwood victory would see Nathan Buckley’s Magpies move inside the top eight for the first time since Round 15, 2015.

The MCC said a crowd of 85,000 was expected for the Melbourne-Richmond Anzac Eve match next Tuesday night.

Last year’s Tigers-Demons crowd of 85,657 eclipsed the best attendance between the two sides by 9000 and was Melbourne’s biggest home-and-away crowd since 1964.