By Peter Ryan, Anthony Colangelo and Sumeyya Ilanbey
Victoria’s public health team has rejected the AFL’s bid to have a 100 per cent crowd capacity at this weekend’s marquee matches at the MCG, instead allowing stadiums to be at 85 per cent capacity.
That is a 10 per cent increase on the current 75 per cent capacity limit, meaning 85,000 fans could go to the MCG to watch Collingwood versus Essendon on Anzac Day, and Melbourne versus Richmond on Anzac Day eve.
AAMI Park and John Cain Arena can also have 85 per cent capacity from this weekend, but not Marvel Stadium, GMHBA Stadium, or Mars Stadium.
Only a handful of tickets for the Collingwood and Essendon clash were left on Wednesday, so the 10,000 capacity boost means those who might have missed out on the game could still get in.
Tickets go on sale at 1pm Friday for MCC members, AFL members, club members and general public for Sunday's game.
Those ticket sales mean the game will eclipse the biggest crowd for the 2021 season so far, the 54,159 that watched West Coast beat Collingwood at Optus Stadium in Perth last Friday night.
“The decision was based on these venues meeting strict public health requirements at last weekend’s games,” a statement from the state government read.
“Crowds at Marvel Stadium, GMHBA Stadium, and Mars Stadium will remain at 75 per cent while further work is undertaken to ensure efficient and effective contract tracing of patrons.
“Arrangements to include members in allocated seats at the MCG form part of the COVID-Safe plan.
“Any future increases in crowd sizes remains dependent on public health conditions being consistently met.”
As part of assessing if the crowds could be boosted, the government sent a spectator to the Bulldogs and Gold Coast, and Carlton and Port Adelaide games last weekend. It then asked the AFL to provide in-depth data about that random fan’s movements and activities – using CCTV and other measures – to show that the league could contact-trace any spectator who came down with the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the AFL has granted St Kilda a Friday night home match in round nine despite their poor early season form, with the Saints to play Geelong at Marvel Stadium on May 14 in the AFL’s latest fixture release.
The Tigers will face Brisbane on Friday night in round 10.Credit: Getty Images
St Kilda were belted in last Thursday night’s much-anticipated clash against Richmond, losing by 86 points, their second defeat by more than 70 points in the past three rounds.
However the AFL will hope they have returned to form by the time they play the Cats, who have also been underwhelming in their three wins so far this season.
Geelong will also be without star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield who is out indefinitely with a syndesmosis injury but have only lost to the Saints once in their last 11 matches.
Collingwood will play Sydney at the SCG in the early Saturday timeslot with the Western Bulldogs to play Port Adelaide in a huge match at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Melbourne will also play Carlton in the mid-afternoon Sunday slot at the MCG.
The AFL will resume with a Friday night blockbuster when last year’s preliminary finalists, the Brisbane Lions and Richmond, play at the Gabba in a rematch.
It will be the first time the Tigers will return to the venue since they won the flag against Geelong in late October.
The Western Bulldogs play St Kilda on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium in round 10 while the Magpies will host Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The fixture for rounds 11 and 12 will be released next week before the AFL moves to releasing matches in four-week blocks, subject to continued stability in the number of COVID-19 cases in Australia.
Marcus King, the AFL’s head of broadcasting and scheduling, said rounds nine and 10 offered a good spread of competitive clashes.
“We have a few weeks until rounds nine and 10 are upon us, but they appear to be a potential nightmare for tipsters,” King said.
“Looking ahead, we plan on releasing rounds 11 and 12 next week, followed by, subject to any COVID setbacks, a minimum four-week block to provide further certainty for clubs and fans.”
ROUNDS NINE AND 10
Round nine
Friday, May 14
- St Kilda v Geelong, Marvel Stadium (SEVEN), 7:50pm
Saturday, May 15
- Sydney v Collingwood, SCG (FOX), 1.45pm
- Hawthorn v North Melbourne, University of Tasmania Stadium (FOX), 2.10pm
- Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions, Metricon Stadium (FOX), 4.35pm
- Richmond v GWS, Marvel Stadium (FOX), 7.25pm
- Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (SEVEN), 7:40pm
Sunday, May 16
- Essendon v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (FOX), 1.10pm
- Melbourne v Carlton, MCG (SEVEN), 3.20pm
- West Coast v Adelaide, Optus Stadium (FOX), 4.40pm
Round 10
Friday, May 21
- Brisbane Lions v Richmond, Gabba (SEVEN), 7.50pm
Saturday, May 22
- Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG (FOX), 1.45pm
- Geelong v Gold Coast, GMHBA Stadium (FOX), 2.10pm
- Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (FOX), 4.35pm
- Western Bulldogs v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (SEVEN), 7.25pm
- Fremantle v Sydney, Optus Stadium (FOX), 7.40pm
Sunday, May 23
- GWS v West Coast, Giants Stadium (FOX), 1:10pm
- Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (SEVEN), 3.20pm
- Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (FOX), 4.40pm
All times AEST
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