Round one of the 2025 AFL season broke the record for the highest attended round in history with 431,505 spectators passing through the gates last weekend.
The total was 28,000 more than the previous record of 413, 405 set in round one of the 2024 season and was only the fifth time in history more than 400,000 fans have attended a single round.
Last Thursday night’s clash between Carlton and Richmond at the MCG kicked off the round, attracting a crowd of more than 80,000 people, as did the following night’s game between Hawthorn and Essendon.
The 80,735 crowd for the Hawthorn vs Essendon match up was the highest ever home and away crowd between the two clubs.
The average attendance in round one was 47,945.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon thanked fans for tuning out in such large numbers to start the season.
“Round one and all nine matches is always such an exciting time for all our clubs, and we are so thankful for all the fans turning out in record numbers,” Mr Dillon said.
“The clubs do so much work connecting with their fans and making the matches must attend events and on behalf of the AFL I want to thank all the fans, venues, broadcasters and clubs for giving us a round one for the history books.”
