Victorian government aims for up to 10000 fans at first open AFL games

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Victorian government aims for up to 10000 fans at first open AFL games
Digital Staff
7Sport
Published: 10/06/2020
Updated: 10 June 2020 6:05 pm

Victorian football fans could be the last to return to stadiums to watch their AFL team take the field.

But there’s a good reason for it.

7NEWS understands the Victorian government doesn’t want to open the gates for just a few hundred or thousands members or corporates, as New South Wales and South Australia will do this weekend.


Those in charge want to do it properly, with up to 10,000 fans set to attend the first game with crowds.

When that happens is up to the government, with one source suggesting a timeline of four-plus weeks more likely than two or three.

The next wave of COVID-19 test results will influence upcoming decisions, with attendees of last weekend’s large protests already urged to get tested.

“We won’t be rushed into making a decision here,” health minister Jenny Mikakos said on Wednesday.

“We will be taking the advice of the Chief Health Officer.”

Victorian clubs are beginning to prepare for crowds and the AFL is ready to go as soon as they receive the green light.

Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has supported the government’s restrictions but says common sense suggests the prospect is already possible.

“Richmond, if they’ve got 100,000 fans and they have 10 of their 17 games at home, somehow 10,000 can get in (each week),” he said on Wednesday.

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“And we can isolate them in certain ways, in bays (at the MCG).”

A survey of more than 500 epidemiologists showed sport, concerts and theatre shows would be the last activities they return to themselves.

Nearly two-thirds would wait at least one year.

The South Australian government has ruled that 2000 fans can watch from the Adelaide Oval stands in accordance with social distancing, with an additional 240 corporate supporters in private rooms.

Of the regular tickets, 1475 have been allocated to Port Adelaide members, 475 to Adelaide members and 50 to Adelaide Oval members, following negotiations between the two clubs.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said tickets would be allocated to Power members via a ballot system, with only 11-game access members able to register for a chance to secure a ‘golden ticket’.

Thomas emphasised there would be harsh penalties if anyone looked to on-sell or scalp their tickets.

“We’ll be screening that and I’ll be sending a note out today saying if any of that occurs, you’ll lose your membership,” he told SEN radio on Wednesday.

“It’s too important, we have to do this in the right spirit.

“There’s a lot of creativity being shown around people trying to get a ticket, I’ll give you that.

“But once they’ve been allocated, we’d be expecting them to turn up of course and do the right thing.”

Fans will be on the second level of the Adelaide Oval with seats spaced out, while they will also face temperature checks on their way into the ground.

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“It’s a bit of a test case to make sure that a stadium can execute this effectively, and hopefully if we get it right it might open up other opportunities around the country,” Thomas said.

Adelaide will also use a ballot - drawn from members who are committed for 2020 - to select their 475 fans.

Meanwhile, Greater Western Sydney have received permission from the NSW government to have 350 people attend their AFL clash with North Melbourne on Sunday.

The Giants will host members and corporate supporters across different function rooms at Giants Stadium, but the stands will remain empty.

“Obviously our primary aim is to allow members and fans back to Giants Stadium on a large scale but given this isn’t possible at the moment we see this as a positive first step,” Giants chief executive David Matthews said.

Local rivals Sydney will follow suit for their clash with Essendon at the SCG later that afternoon but have yet to settle on the ticketing breakdown.

- with Anna Harrington and Callum Godde, AAP