The biggest challenge facing AFL fans at the MCG in 2026 may not be getting a ticket, but understanding whether they will have one. As blockbuster matches draw near capacity, clubs, the venue, and the AFL face a growing dilemma: how to manage massive crowds without shutting out members who once had guaranteed access.
Last year's Geelong versus Hawthorn clash on Easter Monday drew 88,746 fans to the MCG, making it one of the most popular fixtures on the calendar. Yet when asked this week about the ticketing arrangement for 2026's equivalent match, Hawthorn declined to confirm whether the game would be fully ticketed. The silence matters because it leaves thousands of members uncertain whether they can simply walk in with their membership card or whether they must buy a reserved seat upgrade.
This uncertainty is not incidental. A fully ticketed match means members without a reserved seat must upgrade via Ticketek to secure entry, with no general admission or standing room available. For supporters accustomed to free general admission access as part of their membership, the requirement to pay for a reserved seat upgrade feels like a hidden tax on the match itself.
Any home and away season match may be declared fully ticketed at the discretion of the home team, stadium and AFL, with the decision based primarily on ticket sales and member attendance forecasts to ensure patron safety when large crowds are expected. The justification is sound in principle: when a stadium approaches capacity, unreserved seating areas can overflow, creating safety risks.
Yet the practice has drawn scepticism from fans who point to specific cases where stadiums remained far from full despite games being declared sold out. One member reported attending a Round One game where standing room tickets were required despite the stadium operating at only 70 per cent capacity, with 10,000 fewer people showing up than the corresponding game the previous year.
Some blockbusters have already made their position clear. The Dreamtime clash in Round 11 has been deemed a fully ticketed match, requiring members with general admission access to upgrade to a reserved seat to gain entry. Richmond's Round 1 blockbuster against Carlton was declared fully ticketed due to expected high demand. Hawthorn's Round 1 match against Essendon was also designated fully ticketed, requiring all members with general admission access to upgrade via Ticketek using their membership barcode.
The reason for leaving the Easter Monday decision pending remains unclear. Hawthorn may be waiting to see how ticket sales develop, or hoping demand clarifies the need for such designation. But delay creates its own burden: members cannot plan ahead with confidence, and some will inevitably miss out because they failed to upgrade in time.
The broader tension is real and defensible on both sides. Venues must protect safety and manage logistics. Clubs seek additional revenue from reserved seat upgrades. But fans who have already paid for membership feel entitled to walk into their team's game without additional cost. Strip away the talking points and what remains is a mismatch between expectations and how modern crowds are managed.
For the Easter Monday fixture, Hawthorn should make its decision soon. Fans deserve clarity, not silence, on whether this marquee match will be fully ticketed. If the crowds do come close to capacity, the designation may be justified. But if it is not, members should be able to attend with their existing membership, as they have in the past.