The Western Bulldogs and Tom Campbell are among those to play in front of bare stands at Etihad Stadium this year. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia
CROWDS in the AFL heartland have dropped to their lowest levels in years.
Etihad Stadium attendances are at an all-time low while MCG averages have dipped to totals not seen since 2007.
After 20 games at Etihad Stadium the average crowd is 28,570 — down 11.7 per cent on the same time last year.
The MCG's average of 50,342 after 18 games is down 6.7 per cent.
The average Carlton crowd in Melbourne is down more than 4500 this year, to 42,585.
The Blues have played on Thursday night, Monday night and twice on Sunday night.
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Carlton chief executive Greg Swann said the challenge for the AFL was to find a balance between appeasing broadcasters and fans attending matches.
"Based on this year's fixture it seems the pendulum may have swung a little too far in favour of the TV broadcaster requests which in turn has made it challenging for our members, especially those with young families and/or those that live in country Victoria to attend all of our games," Swann said.
Variable ticket pricing has been raised as an issue affecting crowds but the AFL has said it is too early to draw conclusions.
Thanks for coming ... Dennis Armfield and Zach Tuohy are part of a Blues line-up that is seeing fewer fans at their matches. Source: Getty Images
"The mix of matches through the fixture in any point of the season and the form of sides are the key determinants for our crowd totals," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.
"Attendance figures at home matches for clubs do rise and fall historically across our competition and that is largely driven by form, and the mix of opponents."
Nationwide attendance is down only marginally, largely due to bumper turnouts at the new Adelaide Oval.
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The only time Etihad Stadium has averaged less than 30,000 after 20 games in a season was in its opening year, 2000.
"There's still well over half a season of footy remaining and we're optimistic about future games," Etihad Stadium spokesman Bill Lane said.
"We have a series of Friday night matches coming up ... which will help to turn crowd figures around."
Only twice this year has a game attracted more than 70,000. There were five crowds above 70,000 in the first 18 games at the MCG last year and seven in 2012.
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MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said the figures "aren't cause for alarm" yet.
"The general trend we've seen this year is slightly down, I agree," Gough said.
"Whether the variable pricing has had an effect is hard to say, but I think a combination of the form of some of our key teams, a couple of bad days of weather and scheduling has probably had the most impact."
After eight games at Adelaide Oval the average attendance is 44,792, which dwarfs last year's AAMI Stadium average of 30,264.
The AFL-wide average crowd after Round 9 is 33,933. At the same time last year it was 34,072.
Gold Coast crowds are up 14.7 per cent and Fremantle's attendance has risen by 7.7 per cent while West Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Greater Western Sydney have remained steady.
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