AFL Wildcard Round Achieves Record Attendance and Viewership

The inaugural AFL Wildcard Round saw impressive attendance and viewership, with over 172,000 fans at the MCG and 7.4 million viewers tuning in across broadcasts.

The AFL's first Wildcard Round has proven to be a success, attracting significant attendance and viewership during its inaugural weekend. A total of 172,769 fans attended two matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with 81,036 watching the Western Bulldogs defeat Collingwood and 91,733 witnessing Carlton's victory over Melbourne.

Broadcasts of the games reached 7.4 million viewers across Seven and Foxtel, making them the most-watched programs on national television during that time. The match between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs garnered over 3.8 million viewers, while the Carlton versus Melbourne game attracted more than 3.5 million viewers.

Viewership increased significantly in New South Wales and Queensland, rising by 50% compared to the season's average. This successful start to the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series follows record attendance during the regular season, with over 7.7 million fans attending matches. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed satisfaction with the turnout and competitive nature of the games.

AFL Wildcard Round Achieves Record Attendance and Viewership

Tadej Pogacar abandona La Vuelta tras sufrir una grave caída

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