With crowd attendances causing concern, the AFL has revealed a move that it hopes will help bring people back to the footy. The league will reintroduce physical ticketing next year, with the issue thought to be a chief reason behind smaller crowd sizes.
The proposal comes as the competition is seeing the lowest average crowd numbers in 26 years. AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan revealed on Thursday that fans will have a choice next year between digital or physical tickets.
The digital ticketing system has been a divisive one for the AFL community, with many fans extremely unhappy with it. In addition to the creating of accounts and email spam from digital ticketing agencies, fans have also fumed at exorbitant 'handling fees'.
The shameless cash-grabbing at a time of record inflation, where many Australians have felt the squeeze, has been unpopular, to say the least.
In addition to the ticketing system change, McLachlan also revealed next season would see an increase in Thursday night matches.
SEE ALSO: AFL considering another rule change
With the details about the ticketing system for next season still being ironed out, the league said it did not expect additional charges to be associated with physical tickets.
The competition has been hit hard financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic and despite life having largely returned to normal, the effects are still being felt.
Speaking at 'Spud's Lunch' ahead of Friday night's 'Spud's Game' between the Saints and Bombers, McLachlan acknowledged that crowd numbers were a concern and that the league is intent on rectifying the issue.
"I think we have got a pretty good handle on it. I think it was always going to be difficult coming out of Covid, we have actually done a lot of work on it," the game's chief said.
"The number one issue by some margin is digital ticketing. People hate digital ticketing. Over 50 per cent of people say their show rates at the footy is due to digital ticketing and all the friction around that."
"So some good news, this week the guys have organised it with all ticketing agencies, so nationally you again have a choice of a physical card or a digital version for 2023, which is a good result. We are trying to solve all that."
When asked about the prospect of permanent Thursday night games next season, McLachlan elaborated that while he was unsure of there being 23 games, there would certainly be more.
MORE NEWS: Voss questions contentious overturned goal
"I don't know if you'll get 23 weeks of it, for a variety of reasons... but you might get to 14 or 15," he said.
"Supporters like it, people wanted Thursday nights, the only reason we didn't get to 23 is because the logistics don't quite work for a variety of reasons, but we will have more, yes."
While AFL fans have voiced a number of concerns surrounding the state of the game, the league appears intent on showing that they are at least listening to what they want.
