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“But the thing we emphasise more than anything is that we’re playing again.
“Games will be played when they’re scheduled to be played,and it will be up to the teams and the resilience of the teams to manage that as best we can,but we will be playing on.”
McLachlan was delighted with the mood around Melbourne’s streets about the return of footy,and was tipping crowds of 80,000 or so for the first two matches of the men’s season. He said ticket sales were tracking at “pre-COVID levels”.
Subsequently,he was optimistic round one this year would result in a new attendance record. More than 400,000 fans went to the footy in the opening round in 2017.
“Memberships,which are a great lead indicator,are strong. The energy and the conversation around football is everywhere,” McLachlan said.
“In my observation people walking around Melbourne are getting on with their lives. Pubs are full. The streets are emerging.
“The pre-sales are tracking on pre-COVID levels.
“If there’s not 80-ish[crowds of 80,000] for the first couple of games,I’ll be surprised.
“I just think people are ready[for footy to return]. Our people are ready,our clubs are ready,to turn it on.
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“All of the lead indicators – ticket sales,memberships,as well as my own Colonel Sanders recipe for mojo,says that we’re ready to go.”
The AFL met with club presidents on Wednesday,as well as a breakfast meeting with club captains. A 19th club licence for the AFL – a new team in Tasmania – was on the agenda and Goyder reaffirmed that a decision on a team from the Apple Isle joining the AFL would be made this year.
“The commission is taking it seriously,the clubs are taking in seriously and clearly the Tasmanian government is taking it very seriously,” Goyder said.
“It’s serious work. There’s not much point in commenting further until we get into the detail of the work.
“We just want to make sure that if we do something,it makes financial success as well as a whole lot of other things.”
Asked about the prospect of granting a 20th licence,Goyder said:“It’s never been on our agenda.“
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