3rd highest AFL crowds on record

Total attendances for the 2003 AFL premiership season reached 5,873,320, the third highest tally in 107 seasons, an increase of 4.1% on the 2002 total of 5,643,542.

AFL Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Jackson, late today thanked AFL supporters around Australia for their support of this season.

The record attendance for an AFL premiership season was established in 1998 with 6,119,164 while the second highest tally on record is 5,921,134 in 2001.

"We are very fortunate to enjoy such a high level of spectator support and on behalf of our 16 clubs, I wish to record our appreciation to our fans around Australia.

"To draw 5.8 million people is a terrific effort and an appropriate reward for our clubs and our administration at the AFL for their collective work aimed at driving attendances," Mr. Jackson said.

"This outcome also needs to be considered in the context of our crowds being down this year at the MCG by 168,000 compared to 2002 due to the reconstruction of the stadium for the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

The attendance total also comes at a time when the collective membership of the 16 clubs is at an all time record of 453,455.