MCG to welcome up to 75,000 AFL fans as restrictions further eased

Up to 75,000 fans will be able to pack the MCG for Thursday night’s AFL clash between Carlton and Collingwood after health officials lifted crowd limits ahead of round two.

Crowds in Victoria were limited to 50% capacity for round one but on Tuesday, acting premier James Merlino said from Thursday’s match, stadiums would be able to fill to 75% as part of the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.

The biggest crowd in Victoria in round one came in the season opener between Richmond and Carlton, when 49,218 fans attended the MCG.

The change in capacity will also see more fans able to attend Friday night’s game between Geelong and Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium and St Kilda’s Saturday night clash with Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Hawthorn host Richmond at the MCG on Sunday while the Western Bulldogs will play West Coast at Marvel Stadium later that afternoon.

The AFL will hope to see capacity continue to increase in the rounds to come.

Ahead of the season opener, chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he hoped to see a full capacity crowd permitted for Anzac Day.

source: theguardian.com