In an initiative designed to make footy more accessible for kids and more affordable for parents, the Victorian Government has announced that all children aged 14 years and under will receive free entry to AFL matches during Round 21 in Victoria.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos joined AFL CEO Andrew Dillon at Marvel Stadium to announced the initiative, which begins Thursday 31 July.
“Sport should be accessible to all kids, no matter their background,” Dimopoulos said in the announcement.
“We are the sporting capital of Australia, and this partnership means even more people can get caught up in the excitement of footy as Victoria gears up for finals fever.”
The round marks the start of the final month of the AFL home-and-away season and features five major matchups across Melbourne and Geelong.
Western Bulldogs host GWS Giants to kick off the round on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium, which will also see Melbourne take on West Coast on Saturday afternoon.
A rematch of the 2023 Grand Final takes centre stage at the MCG on Saturday night as Collingwood face the Brisbane Lions.
Then on Sunday, St Kilda and North Melbourne meet at Marvel Stadium and Geelong Cats face Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium.
This year’s Kids Go Free round is off the back of the initiatives debut last year where more than 6,000 kids went to the footy- more than a quarter of the total general admission tickets for that round.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said: “Being accessible and affordable is a key pillar for the AFL, and with thanks to the Victorian Government we are able to deliver for families in Victoria in Round 21, with Kids Go Free.”
“We understand the challenges around cost-of-living pressures, and we hope this initiative will allow families to enjoy a day out at the footy with five blockbuster matches during Round 21.”
