The AFL has been called out by a disgruntled fan after appearing to manipulate sections of the crowd for Hawthorn’s clash with Brisbane on Sunday.
A crowd of 29,664 people were there to see the Hawks upset the Lions at Marvel Stadium, which can hold as many as 54,000 people at capacity.
That means the stadium was just a tick over half full — which you wouldn’t know if you were watching the game at home.
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The large majority of the crowd was herded into sections of the crowd that were visible for the Foxtel broadcast cameras.
For clarity, this practice is not an unprecedented move from Marvel Stadium — which is owned by the AFL. It is often done when lower crowds are expected to reduce the burden on stadium staff.
But that was cold comfort for Brisbane Lions supporter Nicole Chapman, who was forced to sit in the rafters of the stadium despite large sections with better viewing vantages being vacant.
“Genius idea, AFL — let’s close half the general admission seating so it looks full for the broadcast. I love unnecessarily being in the nose bleeds,” a sarcastic Nicole said.
Another fan tried to explain the thinking behind the decision.
“They do it because less sections open = less bars, food outlets, toilets to clean etc. It makes sense,” they said.
But Nicole said it shows a lack of consideration for the fans’ experience.
“I get commercially why they do it but as a fan experience it’s horrible,” she fire back.
“Lines for everything and sitting second row from the top for a game that’s not sold out.”
A number of others chimed in against Nicole’s thoughts, suggesting the crowd herding decision has “got nothing to do with that (the broadcast)“.
In the on-field action, Hawthorn continued their hoodoo over Brisbane, posting an impressive 25-point win.
The Hawks powered away from last year’s grand finalists early before withstanding a Lions comeback to win 15.10 (100) to 10.15 (75) for their fourth victory of the season.
Despite not playing finals since 2018, Hawthorn have won five straight matches against the Lions dating back to 2020.
The Lions have beaten all 16 other AFL teams at least once during the past five seasons, but Hawthorn have proved to be a bogey side for Lions coach Chris Fagan — a former Hawks football boss.
James Worpel and Will Day starred in the midfield for Hawthorn, while captain James Sicily was a rock in defence as the Lions’ forward line functioned poorly.
After Brisbane kicked the first goal, Hawthorn raced out to a 35-point lead midway through the second term.
The Lions cut the deficit to just three points moments before the final break, but were left to rue kicking 3.7 during a third quarter they dominated in general play.
Hawthorn booted the first three goals of the final quarter to break the Lions’ spirit.
The victory comes just seven days after Hawthorn suffered a heartbreaking loss at the death after they had been up by 41 points against Port Adelaide.
The result leaves the Lions’ campaign reeling with a 4-1-6 record and sitting in 12th place on the ladder heading into the bye after playing finals for the past five seasons.
After kicking five goals last week in a 119-point mauling of Richmond, livewire Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron’s radar was off on Sunday as he finished with 1.3 and one shot that went out on the full in a costly performance.
Former Hawthorn tall Brandon Ryan had a dream start in his Lions debut, slotting the first goal of the match.
But Hawthorn premiership hero Jack Gunston — who spent one season with the Lions last year before returning to Waverley Park — turned back the clock with a vital four-goal performance, including the sealer with four minutes left.
Hawthorn will host Adelaide at the MCG next Saturday as they continue their steady build under coach Sam Mitchell.
The Lions will lick their wounds during the bye before trying to salvage something from the season whey play the Western Bulldogs back at Marvel Stadium in round 13.
– With AAP