Essendon have formally requested the AFL to modify its first-round conflict from Marvel Stadium to the MCG, 7NEWS understands.
The determined bid to get 21,00zero extra followers to the soccer comes 19 days earlier than the Bombers host Hawthorn within the Saturday evening characteristic conflict.
The AFL and Victorian authorities final week confirmed the state’s two largest grounds can host crowds at 50 per cent capability from this weekend.
The present fixture would enable simply 29,00zero followers to attend on March 20, whereas the requested change would develop that to 50,00zero on the MCG.
However roadblocks are in place.
The MCG is already internet hosting Melbourne versus Fremantle on Saturday afternoon, along with the season-opening video games on Thursday evening and Friday evening.
It’s unclear if the AFL’s COVID-safe plan entails deep cleansing between matches, although Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast hosted a number of double-headers final 12 months.
Essendon host the vast majority of their 11 residence video games on the AFL-owned Marvel Stadium, with solely 4 per 12 months – together with certainly one of Anzac Day or the Dreamtime conflict – locked in on the MCG.
The AFL has but to answer Essendon’s request.
Soccer followers rushed to purchase tickets for pre-season video games at Marvel Stadium this weekend, forcing golf equipment to apologise for the delays.
Carlton will play St Kilda on Thursday evening earlier than Collingwood and Richmond face off 24 hours later.
The bottom may also host the Bulldogs and Melbourne on Monday afternoon.
Victorian followers haven’t been allowed to attend an AFL males’s conflict since greater than 50,00zero individuals packed into Marvel Stadium for the bushfire reduction sport final February.
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