2022 has seen some terrific footy played thus far.

We've seen great games, high-scoring footy and a very even competition bar a couple of rebuilding sides.

However, one thing we haven't seen is high crowd numbers. In fact, average crowd numbers are down from 37,250 in 2019 to just 31,005 this year, a 16% decrease.

Such poor crowd numbers haven't been seen since 1995 when the average attendance for a game was as low as 29,103.

As a result, there has been much speculation about whether these low numbers are affecting the performance of teams.

Only a fortnight ago, Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca complained that poor crowd numbers are costing the Demons wins.

Speaking on KIIS 101.1, the superstar said that “we need a crowd first to actually get ourselves going, no one comes."

Christian Petracca during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

Home ground advantages have always been recognised by the AFL community as extremely important.

This is why no one wanted to travel to Perth to face the Eagles for a number of years and why no team wants to make the trip down to Geelong to play the Cats.

The biggest reason for the difference would seemingly be that teams get accustomed to the dimensions and advantages which a particular ground could possess.

But what about the crowd itself? The only way to demonstrate the proper effect of the crowd is to observe what happens when two sides with the same home ground play each other.

For example, is Richmond more likely to beat Carlton at the MCG in a home game or an away game?

After compiling all the results between 2010-2022  - leaving out compromised campaigns of 2020 and 2021 - we observed some significant findings.

First of all, in eight of the 11 years, the 'home' teams won more games than the 'away' teams.

Equally surprising, teams that were the home team were 6% more likely to win a game and 40% more likely to win a final.

Whilst this sample size isn't very big, it appears as though the crowd plays a reasonably big part in the mind of a footballer.

Another interesting point is that the clubs with the highest average attendances, such as Richmond and Carlton, have the best records of all when playing at the MCG against other sides that share the MCG.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Jayden Short of the Tigers celebrates kicking a goal during the round four AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 09, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Most fascinating of all is the fact that teams playing at home with a home crowd managed to gain momentum far more easily than the side with an away crowd.

For instance, in Carlton's home Round 1 clash with the Tigers, Michael Voss' side went on a 37-6 run in the final quarter to pull clear and win their first game of the season.

In a similar vein, the Pies stormed home in the Queen's Birthday clash against premiership favourites Melbourne, going on a 36-8 run in the last quarter.

In other words, a big home crowd seemingly correlates to a team gaining significant momentum.

Whether this is due to an extra adrenaline boost, a boost in morale or anything else, it is hard to deny that crowds help teams go on a run.

Such findings would leave one to think whether some of the biggest games this year could have ended completely differently if the AFL had simply just switched the names of the home team and the away team. Instead of catastrophe, cacophonic joy.

Games like the Showdown, the Queen's Birthday clash and the two Richmond-Carlton clashes may have gone another way.

With some season-defining games over the next few weeks, a 50-50 match-up could just favour the home side.

Looking further into the season, a home final will be of massive importance, even between sides who share the same home ground.