AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has apologised to those families with Auskick participants who had been hoping to use their 2008 complimentary ticket allocation at next week's round 17 match between Hawthorn and Geelong.

Auskick participants are provided with two adult and two childrens' general admission tickets for a specified match through the season, with entry subject to capacity being available within the ground at that game.

Families who had nominated Geelong as their support club were given the option to attend next week's match, but demand for tickets for the game means the AFL is not able to accommodate the families who nominated Geelong.

The families were were notified earlier this week.

"So far this year, the program has been a great success with more than 9000 children and 9000 adults having attended various matches through the season as part of the Auskick Club Connect program," Demetriou said.

"These matches, for each separate club, were targeted towards games where we expected significant capacity to be available within the ground, as these are not reserved seats. To this point of the year, all requests have been met. 

"For Geelong, the round 17 match was nominated pre-season as a game where we expected families would be able to walk up and get a seat, on the past history of attendances between the two clubs.

"The demand for this game has meant that very few positions remain available, and all tickets are expected to be sold out in the near future.

"We did not wish for any families to be turned away on the night, with a sold out match, and advised them earlier this week that the AFL would offer the round 19 match for Geelong, against Melbourne at the MCG, for free entry for these tickets.

"The AFL apologises for the disappointment to any fans and we hope many families take up the offer for the round 19 match."