AFL sets new attendance record for any round after first full weekend of games in 2025

The opening weekend of AFL may have fallen flat with just two games, but a full round of matches was enough for records to be smashed.

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March 17, 2025 - 11:23AM

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An interrupted start to the 2025 AFL season hasn’t impacted momentum.

Despite a low Sunday turnout in Melbourne, a new attendance record for any round was set, with more than 430,000 people attending the nine games.

The AFL’s opening round was cut in half by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which forced the postponement of two games in Queensland, with just two games played, both in Sydney.

But the return of football to Melbourne for round 1, with games played from Thursday through to Sunday, proved a smash hit for the league with 431,505 fans attending matches.

It set a new mark by nearly 18,000 people, with the average attendance in round 1 close to 50,000 at 47,945.

The mark topped the previous record set in round 1 last year as AFL crowds continue to surge

The MCG was packed for Essendon v Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

AFL boss Andrew Dillon said games were becoming “must-attend events”.

“Round 1 and all nine matches is always such an exciting time for all our clubs, and we are so thankful for all the fans turning out in record numbers,” he said.

“The clubs do so much work connecting with their fans and making the matches must-attend events and on behalf of the AFL, I want to thank all the fans, venues, broadcasters and clubs for giving us a round 1 for the history books.“

More than 80,000 people attended games at the MCG last Thursday and Friday, with the 80,735 fans who attended the Hawthorn v Essendon match the highest-ever home-and-away crowd between the two clubs.

The grand final rematch between Sydney and Brisbane also drew the highest crowd (34,906) for a clash between those two teams for nearly two decades.

Wet and wild weather in Melbourne on Sunday impacted the turnout for the thrilling clash between the Demons and GWS at the MCG, which drew only 23,278 fans, the lowest crowd across round 1.