Around 12,000-14,000 are expected for the game between Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs in the nation’s capital, while an even more modest crowd of 9000 will be the likely attendance for Gold Coast’s home game with North Melbourne.
The Cairns stadium is being used as one of the fill-in grounds while Metricon Stadium remains unavailable for the Commonwealth Games.
As revealed by Fairfax Media on Wednesday, a crowd of more than 90,000 people is expected to pack into the MCG for the season opener between Richmond and Carlton, where the reigning premiers will unveil their flag.
That, along with a sold-out crowd of 55,000 for West Coast’s home game against Sydney at the new Optus Stadium, has enabled the AFL to believe they’re a chance to set a new mark.
But the AFL concedes the Hawthorn v Collingwood and Melbourne v Geelong games will be pivotal.
“We’re expecting a strong attendance for the Hawks and the Pies,” Auld said.
“It’s two big clubs kicking off the season at the MCG on a Saturday and likewise on the Sunday. We’ve seen some changes to Geelong’s list and also a lot of excitement around that game.
“Certainly there’s been significant excitement about Gary [Ablett] returning to the Cats. Equally there’s excitement around [Jake] Lever playing for Melbourne.”
Ablett looks all but certain to make his return for the blue and white hoops, but fellow Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield is touch and go to join him, after he too suffered a hamstring strain.
The Demons have been touted by many as the team most likely to make a quantum leap in 2018 and – as pointed out by Auld – will be further buoyed by the pre-season performance of Lever, who will make his debut after last playing in a grand final.
The AFL believes a crowd of 65,000 would represent a strong figure, but it could slip as low as 50,000 if inclement weather prompts Cats fans not to make the trip up the highway.
Similarly, the AFL believes it is difficult to predict the crowd for the game at the MCG the night before, between Collingwood and Hawthorn.
The minimum crowd hoped for would be around the 60,000 mark, but a strong turn-out from both sets of fans could push it into the mid 70s.
Comments disabled
Morning & Afternoon Newsletter
Delivered Mon–Fri.
[contf] [contfnew] 
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
