Kick-to-kick trial locked in for the MCG in 2015

[Eastdog]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-11/...rial-locked-in

POST-SIREN kick-to-kick is back in vogue, and the AFL has revealed it supports the initiative in principle as it looks to return the game to the fans.

The League revealed on Tuesday that the famed tradition of allowing supporters to run around on the MCG after games would return in 2015.

However, while the initiative has been agreed on in principle, the AFL is yet to determine how many games each club will be allocated.

AFL general manager of clubs and AFL operations, Travis Auld, said the proposal was a conscious decision to improve fans' match-day experience, although the league is yet to determine how many post-siren kick-arounds each club will be allocated.

"It's certainly part of the same theme (that the fixture has taken)," Auld told AFL.com.au.

"We've been really clear in making sure we make our game as accessible, affordable and as fun as possible.

"It will continue a series of initiatives we're working on that will focus on those key areas."

Year of the fan: AFL initiatives for 2015
- free NAB Challenge entry for club members
- Saturday blockbusters return in 2015 premiership fixture
- curtain-raiser games back on the agenda
- new ticketing structure to be announced

MCC chief executive Stephen Gough has been in discussions with Auld. The two parties still need to work through the finer details, however an agreement has been reached.

The AFL will measure the success of the trial before seeking to expand the concept to Etihad Stadium. Auld confirmed the Docklands venue had not been considered for kick-to-kick next season.

"We haven't considered Etihad at this point. We want to trial the MCG and see how that works," he said.

"At some stage we'd be really happy to have the conversation with Etihad about how we might be able to offer the same experience to supporters at that stadium."

Security and the insurance measures were factors the AFL needed to consider before agreeing on the move.

Meanwhile, the League is also looking at the prospect of playing a number of curtain-raisers ahead of home and away fixtures next year.

"We can certainly see the benefit of having curtain raisers," Auld said.

"We haven't actually gone to the stage of speaking to the individual clubs of how they're going to weigh curtain-raisers versus kick-to-kick and what might work for their club.

"Our next stage now is to get an idea of the sort of volume that doesn't impact the ground and then go and have a chat to the individual clubs.

"It will take a little while, but we've got time on our side."

[bulldogtragic]

Good. I hope the alleged BS claims for injury stay in the past and don't rob the experience from kids again.

[The Underdog]

That's awesome news....for teams that play at the MCG