Fans or no fans, thank goodness footy’s back after making a way through its greatest challenge

Shorter quarters, cardboard cut-out fans, an empty MCG and no high fives — the Richmond-Collingwood post-COVID clash was unlike any seen before, but it shows footy found a way through its greatest challenge.

Collingwood v Richmond faced off in a Round 2 unlike any other. Pic: Michael Klein

After an 81-day coronavirus shutdown that almost took the game to breaking point, Richmond and Collingwood played out a draw at the MCG last night — the first tie between these two old rivals in 103 years.

Shorter quarters, cardboard cut-out fans, the echo of players’ voices reverberating around an empty stadium, no high fives — it wasn’t what we were used to, but thank goodness footy’s back.

The Magpies kicked the first four goals of the match and led for all but the final few minutes before a rushed behind to Richmond levelled the scores.

The final siren sounded with the ball deep in Collingwood’s attacking zone and both sides were clearly physically exhausted.

Magpie skipper Scott Pendlebury said some fans might have felt like breaking their televisions due to the number of skill errors and the fact that the final result was a draw.

That frustration aside, this wasn’t just the kickstarting of the code in a season that some feared might be over just one round after it had began.

The clash between two of the game’s most powerful clubs gave new hope and a semblance of normality to millions of footy fans around the country

Importantly, footy’s return has provided a semblance of normality to millions of fans around the country who badly needed a distraction from the pandemic that has changed the world in a matter of months.

When the Round 1 games took place less than three months ago without fans and with a genuine fear that the pandemic might do to Australia what it has done in other parts of the world, there were some who felt it just wasn’t right to play.

Fast forward to now, and AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan was right: “The game found a way” through its greatest challenge.

Although supporters attending matches in Victoria might still be a month away, McLachlan stressed that the financial backing of members had saved the 18 AFL clubs.

“Members and supporters are the lifeblood of clubs, and the loyalty of the members who have stayed on through this period has basically kept their clubs alive,” McLachlan told Channel 7.

“They have been extraordinary; they have saved clubs, so thank you.”

Richmond and Collingwood faced off at an empty Melbourne Cricket Ground

Last night’s Tigers-Magpies match was the most unusual clash between these old foes in the 212 times they have met in VFL-AFL history.

It was the first draw these two clubs have played since 1917.

There was touching unity from players of both clubs — as well as the umpires — when they collectively took to a knee in the middle of the MCG in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Like in Round 1, things were different. There were 16-minute quarters plus time-on, longer breaks at quarter-time and three-quarter-time, an extra 15 seconds after a goal, a maximum of 26 club staff in attendance (including a COVID-19 protocol manager), the exclusion of non-competing players and social distancing in terms of players on the bench (1.5m apart) and goal celebrations.

The heartwarming story of the night was popular Tiger Jack Higgins, who played his first game since undergoing brain surgery that many feared would end his AFL career.

Higgins’ beaming smile as he ran on to the MCG shone as bright as the light towers.

Cardboard cutouts of fans during the round 2 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Richmond Tigers

And when Higgins kicked his first goal late in the third quarter after a contentious mark on the goal line, Tiger teammates rushed from everywhere to celebrate with him.

Both clubs last night tried to incorporate their missing fans as best as they could.

At the famous Punt Rd end of the ground, Richmond placed in the section behind the goals normally reserved for the cheer squad a smattering of yellow and black signs and slogans to symbolise its fans.

At the city end, the Magpies arranged 1000 cardboard cutouts of fans, including grassroots supporters who have stuck with the club through the pandemic, as well as president Eddie McGuire and former cheer squad leader “Joffa” Corfe, who now lives in Fiji.

McGuire told the Herald Sun on Wednesday, and Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula said yesterday, the push to have Victorian fans return to games in big numbers — anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 — could come as early as next month.

Now that would be something to celebrate!

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Originally published as Fans or no fans, thank goodness footy’s back after making a way through its greatest challenge