The total number of fans attending AFL games across the weekend was 315,838 – the third highest Round Two attendance figure in AFL history.

Total Round Two crowd numbers for the nine matches played across five states have only been previously surpassed in 2013 (350,736 people) and in 2010 (317,620 people across eight matches).

The AFL is pleased with crowds for the first two rounds of 2014, particularly given the earlier start to the season, some scheduling changes and the two-week format of Round One which was necessitated by the unavailability of the MCG, the SCG, Adelaide Oval and the GABBA for Opening Round this year, meaning that the round of matches was scheduled with four matches at Etihad Stadium, and one match at each of Spotless Stadium, Simonds Stadium, Aurora Stadium, Metricon Stadium and Paterson's Stadium.

The AFL’s modelling had forecast a total Round Two crowd figure of around 327,500 people and the 12,000 overall shortfall was largely attributable to lower than expected crowds at the Richmond vs Carlton game at the MCG on Thursday night and the Sydney vs Collingwood game at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night.

The overall attendance for the 2014 Season’s Opening Round, played across two weekends, was also very close to AFL expectations based on equivalent past matches.

Apart from representing the third highest Round Two total crowd on record, other highlights included:

• The crowd for Fremantle vs Gold Coast SUNS surpassed the previous best attendance for these two teams, 35,583. Previous highest was Rd 15 at Patersons Stadium in 2011, 28,646
• 50,397 is the highest Port Adelaide home game vs Adelaide and the second highest overall. The highest was Adelaide home game Rd 5, 2003, 51,140
• The crowd for St Kilda v GWS surpassed the previous best attendance between these two teams, 19,640, Previous high was Rd 22, 2012, 17,327.

Round 2 Summary:

Ends