World record post-Covid crowd at MCG

A world record crowd for the post pandemic era attended the AFL’s annual Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon.

The pre-game ceremony at the MCG on Anzac Day. Picture: Getty Images

A year after the MCG sat empty aside from a lone bugler playing The Last Post, a world record crowd for the post-pandemic era attended the AFL’s annual Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon.

The MCG fell silent again on Sunday. But this time the crowd of 78,113 did so in tribute to the Anzacs, in a poignant ceremony that preceded the game.

The Victorian government lifted the cap on stadium crowds to allow 85,000 into the two MCG blockbusters at the weekend. Although the turnout didn’t quite reach the limit, it was well ahead of the previous record post-Covid crowd, held by a Twenty20 cricket match in India. The match between India and England, in Ahmedabad in March, drew a crowd of 67,200.

The NRL’s traditional Anzac Day match also drew a big crowd, as 37,620 descended on the SCG for the clash between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons. The last time the old lady was that full was for a pair of U2 concerts in late-2018 — and it was the biggest crowd at an NRL game since last year’s State of Origin.

Veterans and serving Defence Force members in uniform were spread through the crowd at both the NRL and AFL games.

Once the anthems of New Zealand and Australia had been sung at the MCG, the massive crowd found their voice with Essendon fans roaring in approval as the Bombers surged away from Collingwood to win by 24 points.

“It was unbelievable to come out in front of everyone today,” said triumphant Essendon captain Dyson Heppell.

In Sydney, the Roosters put on a show pouring on the points and the pressure. They did it for large parts without captain and superstar James Tedesco, who was knocked out in the first half after being on the receiving end of a high shot from Dragon winger Jordan Perreira.

It didn’t matter — the Roosters were too good, winning 34-10. In the process, a star was born, with Sam Walker named man of the match. The 18-year-old ran the show in his first Anzac Day match.

At the MCG, Bomber Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti turned in a similarly dominant performance, with five goals.

The world has changed a great deal in the year since the MCG and the SCG stood empty on Anzac Day and Covid-19 continues to ravage nations around the world.

The events of the weekend — with Perth in lockdown and an AFL match between Fremantle and North Melbourne played to an empty stadium — are a reminder the threat is far from over. Matches in the A-League and the NBL scheduled for Sunday were postponed because the teams had been in Perth last week, and two AFL teams are in isolation after returning from Western Australia.