The AFL season made an unusually subdued start on Thursday night as Richmond defeated Carlton at a deserted Melbourne Cricket Ground. The match, usually a blockbuster attracting tens of thousands, took place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Without a crowd, the atmosphere was flat. The MCG, a monument to sport in Australia, stood nearly empty, with goals kicked into vacant rows of seats. The umpire's whistle, normally drowned out by the roar of 85,000 fans, carried clearly across the stands.
The game itself was one-sided in the first half, with Richmond quickly establishing a lead. When Carlton staged a fightback in the second half, it lacked the sense of jeopardy that a crowd would have provided. The spectacle felt performative, a stark contrast to last year's packed opening round.
The match proceeded amid significant uncertainty. Dr Peter Brukner, a prominent sports medicine expert, predicted that a positive Covid-19 test at an AFL or other sports club is almost certain in the coming weeks. Such an event could trigger a suspension of the season, as has happened in other leagues.
During the half-time break, a government advertisement urged social distancing, yet moments later the broadcast showed players in close contact. This cognitive dissonance highlighted the dilemma of continuing sport during a public health crisis.
