I was there today. The crowd didn't surprise me at all. About right really.
Just wait until next week though... the media will be pumping up Essendon's tyres all week about the record first quarter and the high score and we'll get 40,000 at least for the Eagles game next Sunday. All the fickle bandwagoners will jump back on board.
Eagles have quite a big supporter base in Melbourne and many travel over for the game every year so will be a big one.
Next Sunday is mothersday, worst drawing timeslot in the fixture. There will be heaps missing.
Had this game been on a sat night we would have easily topped 40k+.