HOW HIGH can it go?

When speaking to media on Monday morning at the announcement of Carlton’s Co-Major partnership extension with Great Southern Bank, CEO Brian Cook was asked about projections for Thursday’s return to the MCG against Richmond.

Naturally, a blockbuster crowd is expected. Cook is even hopeful that the final figure may “have a nine in front of it”.

“We think we’ll have 90,000 members and we think we’ll get over 90,000 people turn up. It’s another huge week for the Carlton Football Club.”

10:37

Cook announces four-year extension with Great Southern Bank

Brian Cook fronted the media at the MCG following the announcement of a four-year contract extension with Great Southern Bank.

Should that eventuate, those in attendance will be part of Navy Blue history.

Only twice before have the Blues played in front of a home-and-away crowd in excess of 90,000. The last one was in the corresponding fixture six years ago, when 90,151 piled into the home of football to see the Tigers and Blues kick off the 2018 season in the aftermath of Richmond’s drought-breaking premiership.

Carlton’s biggest home crowd of all time came in the year 2000, as the two heavyweights of the competition in the Blues and Bombers played in front of 91,571 people.

Could this year be the third? Could it even make Carlton history as the biggest home-and-away crowd the Blues have played in to date?

Regardless of where the final tally ends up, the Round 1 affair is a can’t-miss event this Thursday. In what will be one of the Blues’ biggest home-and-away crowds of all time, the Blues have been no strangers to playing in front of capacity crowds under Michael Voss in recent seasons.

Thursday night is a fully ticketed event, meaning membership cards will not provide access: members must use their barcode number to upgrade to a reserved seat. For all the details for Round 1 ticketing, click here!

Carlton’s biggest home-and-away crowds

91,571 — Carlton v Essendon (Round 20, 2000)
90,151 — Richmond v Carlton (Round 1, 2018)
88,287 — Carlton v Collingwood (Round 23, 2022)
88,181 — Collingwood v Carlton (Round 3, 2011)
88,084 — Richmond v Carlton (Round 1, 2023)
87,043 — Richmond v Carlton (Round 1, 2009)
86,785 — Collingwood v Carlton (Round 20, 2023)
85,936 — Carlton v Collingwood (Round 17, 2011)
85,016 — Carlton v Richmond (Round 1, 2019)
84,938 — Carlton v Collingwood (Round 17, 2009)

Carlton’s biggest crowds under Michael Voss

96,412 — Melbourne v Carlton (2023 semi final)
92,026 — Carlton v Sydney (2023 elimination final)
88,287 — Carlton v Collingwood (Round 23, 2022)
88,084 — Richmond v Carlton (Round 1, 2023)
86,785 — Collingwood v Carlton (Round 20, 2023)
83,638 — Carlton v Essendon (Round 13, 2023)
80,627 — Collingwood v Carlton (Round 11, 2022)
80,354 — Carlton v Collingwood (Round 10, 2023)
72,179 — Carlton v Richmond (Round 1, 2022)
68,577 — Carlton v Melbourne (Round 22, 2023)