Collingwood and Richmond fought out a bizarre* low-scoring draw to restart the 2020 AFL season after a two-month break.
The 5.6 (36) to 5.6 (36) result was just the second draw between these teams, and the first since 1917.
And at time when the AFL wants coaches to let loose with attacking, gung-ho* football, it was the lowest scoring match this century, albeit* played on reduced game time.
The match, broadcast from an empty MCG with fake crowd noise, was also not without controversy* when a score review overturned the goal umpire’s call to award a mark to Richmond’s Jack Higgins on the goal line.
The ball appeared to be over the line for a behind, but Higgins took his chance and kicked a goal to put the Tigers within two points of the Magpies.
The Thursday night match in Melbourne kicked off* the most long-awaited round 2 in the history of the game.
Continuing COVID-19-related restrictions in Victoria meant fans could not attend the match and had to be content with cheering and yelling at their TV.
However, there is hope Victorian footy fans could be at the game in person soon, perhaps by round 4, as state governments continue to open up stadiums for AFL matches.
Victoria is likely to trail behind South Australia, NSW and Queensland in allowing a limited number of fans into stadiums, according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide will welcome more than 2000 spectators into the Adelaide Oval in South Australia for Saturday night’s Showdown, with an extra 240 fans watching from corporate boxes*.
Queenslanders will have to wait a week before being permitted into the Gabba and Metricon Stadium.
On Wednesday morning, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told the Nine Network there would be no further change to the restrictions in that state for round 2 AFL matches or for round 5 NRL matches this weekend, at which a small number of people are allowed to watch from corporate boxes.
“No, not this weekend, no,” she said on the Today show.
“However, we’ve said the use of corporate boxes and the like is the first stage of that engagement.”
While it’s not yet clear just how many fans will be allowed into the MCG when it reopens, the MCC* is confident it could welcome tens of thousands of fans under the current social distancing restrictions. The capacity of the MCG is 100,024, making it Australia’s largest-capacity sports stadium and the 10th largest in the world.
AFL ROUND 2 MATCHES TO COME
Friday, June 12
Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn, GMHBA, 7.50pm
Saturday June 13
Brisbane Lions vs. Fremantle, Gabba, 1.45pm
Carlton vs. Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4.35pm
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm
Gold Coast Suns vs. West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium, 7.40pm
Sunday June 14
GWS Giants vs. North Melbourne, Giants Stadium, 1.05pm
Sydney Swans vs. Essendon, SCG, 3.35pm
St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 6.05pm
GLOSSARY
- bizarre: strange
- gung-ho: enthusiastic, eager
- albeit: though
- kicks off: starts
- corporate boxes: private dining rooms companies hire for watching sport
- MCC: Melbourne Cricket Club, which manages the MCG
EXTRA READING
AFL announces next rounds in restarted 2020 season
Search for solutions to sports’ COVID-19 problems
NRL restart to attract massive TV audience
QUICK QUIZ
- Who played at the MCG on Thursday night?
- How long was the break between rounds 1 and 2 in AFL season 2020?
- Approximately how many spectators will be at the AFL match in South Australia this weekend?
- What is the largest-capacity stadium in Australia?
- How many spectators can the MCG hold?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Design a Banner
What do you think should be on the banner for your favourite AFL team to run through before their first game after lockdown? Choose one team, draw a design and choose some words that will inspire them to play their best at this time.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English
2. Extension
Should footy games should be starting now? Write a list of reasons for and a list of reasons against.
Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability
VCOP ACTIVITY
I Spy Nouns
Nouns are places, names (of people and objects), and time (months or days of the week).
How many nouns can you find in the article?
Can you sort them into places, names and time?
Pick 3 nouns and add an adjective (describing word) to the nouns.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What sport or game are you most looking forward to watching?
No one-word answers. Use full sentences to explain your thinking. No comments will be published until approved by editors.
