42,869 at the MCG

[SJ]

Game, set and match Dan26.

 

[The Passenger]

a possible explanation;

http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/25/the-afls-tipping-point-2/

Selected paragraphs:

Is AFL at Tipping Point or Saturation Point?

.....

The Tipping Point is an examination of the social epidemics that surround us, how they are formed and what makes them become so popular.

The opposite effect is The Saturation Point.

We have all experienced the saturation point. In a work place people are repeatedly told how important some task is, yet somehow they forget to do it or even deliberately don’t do it.

.......


The AFL seem to be everywhere and always in the news. Radio, television, newspapers, all sorts of advertising for AFL.

They are even now getting into the weekend magazines, TV and chat shows. Case in point a very lengthy piece on Andrew Demetriou in this week’s Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend. The little Aussie battler who comes good and is now the “goliath of Australian sport”.

.........


So now the opening game of the 2011 AFL season kicked off last night with an attendance of 60,650. That’s a pretty good crowd for most sports competitions, but because the AFL has set its sights so high and based on previous season openers, it was in fact a very disappointing turn out.

86,972 AFL followers watched the same two teams open the season in 2009 – that’s a 31% drop in opening game attendance. Sure it’s only the first game of the season, but it’s certain to be something the AFL commissioners would be concerned about.

Has AFL reached the saturation point?

......

the full article is more focussed on the game in sydney but it still stands true when discussing the round one crowds. he also neglects to mention that the ben cousins comeback had a huge influence on that round one crowd a couple of years back.

but there is no doubt the AFL would have a few raised eye brows at the crowds for round one. whilst they're solid and no need to panic, those sitting in the ivory tower wouldn't exactly have smiled at them.

 

[TheRevolution]

Gold coast crowds shall be interesting

 

[rufus t firefly]

There's no way I'd go to the G on a Friday night to watch a game against St Kilda. They're putrid

That's just stupid. Before Friday, the last few Geelong-St Kilda games have been classics.

I went on Friday but with no enthusiasm because I know this is going to be a poor season with St Kilda no serious chance of challenging Collingwood. I suspect a lot of Geelong fans will feel the same.