AFL pushes for bigger crowds, footy back in Ballarat

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AFL executives are negotiating with the Victorian government for an increase to crowd caps.

And league football is all but certain to return to Ballarat this weekend, with expansion clubs Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast to lock horns in front of a sparse regional crowd.

A lone Eagles fan watches the Sydney v West Coast game at GMHBA Stadium on the weekend.Credit:Getty Images

League sources have confirmed to The Age that while the AFL hasn’t asked the Andrews government for an increase to a specific number, they are hopeful health authorities will raise the current 25,000-person limit on Wednesday.

AFL officials believe MCG games between Richmond and Collingwood as well as Carlton and Geelong will attract more fans than the current limit, although privately admit a significant spike in attendance is unlikely.

The league has already announced that Port Adelaide will host Melbourne in a Thursday night blockbuster at the Adelaide Oval to kick off round 17, while Essendon’s clash with Adelaide is certain to take place on Friday night at Marvel Stadium.

West Coast will fly back to Perth on Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s home clash with North Melbourne.

Although the West Australian government is yet to re-open its border with Victoria, both the Eagles and the AFL remain confident that will happen in the coming days.

The Brisbane Lions – who are fixtured to host St Kilda at the Gabba this weekend – remain in Melbourne and are yet to book flights with the evolving COVID-19 situation in Queensland.

Victoria regards greater Brisbane as a red zone, meaning if St Kilda played there they would have to isolate for 14 days upon return.

While the Lions are still hopeful the game can go ahead as planned, the league has at least two contingency plans.

AFL fixture boss Travis Auld.Credit:The Age

One is to move the game to the Gold Coast, which is deemed an orange zone. That would mean the Saints would only have to isolate when they return to Melbourne until they receive a negative test.

Alternatively, the game could be played in Melbourne with the Lions as the home team.

The AFL is trying to release its full round 17 fixture by Monday night, or Tuesday morning at the latest.

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