A MAJOR ticketing failure has frustrated fans trying to purchase tickets for the opening rounds of the season at the MCG.

The MCC's ticket agency Ticketek experienced a system crash on Friday morning and it has forced the AFL to postpone the sale of all tickets to MCG matches.

General public tickets were due to open at 12pm AEDT on Friday, after AFL Members tickets went on sale three hours earlier.

The entire sale for MCG matches has been shut down.

The meltdown will be a cause of concern for League headquarters, which has put a huge focus on 'fan experience' in the past 18 months.

"The AFL apologises to fans who have been inconvenienced by the Ticketek system failure," the League said in a statement.

AFL.com.au has contacted Ticketek for comment.

The AFL member on-sale will now begin on Friday, March 11 at 9.00am and the general public will follow at 12.00pm.