A season of records and tragedy for the Australian Football League
In short: The 2024 AFL season was defined by unprecedented milestones and profound loss. While clubs shattered attendance records and players rewrote the history books, the league also faced a sudden tragedy that halted the competition, forcing players and umpires to pause in a moment of silence.
The 128th season of the Australian Football League was a year of significant statistical breakthroughs. The league saw a massive surge in engagement, breaking the previous home-and-away attendance record with a cumulative total of 7,756,268 spectators. This momentum was fueled by record-breaking club memberships, which reached 1,319,687 by the end of July, with 13 clubs hitting new membership highs.
On the field, the Brisbane Lions secured their fourth premiership by defeating Sydney by 60 points in the Grand Final. The season also saw individual brilliance: Carlton's Patrick Cripps set a new record for the most Brownlow Medal votes under the 3–2–1 system, polling 45 votes. Meanwhile, Jesse Hogan of Greater Western Sydney claimed the Coleman Medal as the league's leading goalkicker.
However, the season was also marked by solemnity following the murder of goal umpire Jesse Baird and his partner, Luke Davies. After Baird failed to arrive for a practice match on 20 February 2024, a minute of silence was observed by the Sydney and Melbourne teams before their scheduled match. This period of mourning occurred alongside administrative shifts, as Andrew Dillon took over as AFL CEO in October 2023, succeeding Gillon McLachlan.
The competition also experimented with format and scheduling. To grow the game in northern states, an 'Opening Round' was held in Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Additionally, the AFL adjusted Thursday and Friday night match start times to 7:30pm and 7:40pm respectively, following fan feedback.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 AFL season
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