AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the evenness of the competition was among the key factors which attracted a record number of fans to the opening round of the season.
Three all-Victorian blockbusters at the MCG helped swell the total attendance figure across nine matches to 400,401, more than 29,000 better than the previous record set back in 2013.
The biggest crowd was the 78,294 who watched Essendon beat old foes Hawthorn in dramatic style, spurred by six players returning from season-long drugs bans.
"The Essendon one stands out," McLachlan said on Monday.
"It was significant for that supporter group, the player group and I think it was just a great moment."
Port Adelaide's victory over Sydney at the SCG and Melbourne's first win against St Kilda in 11 years were also major upsets.
"That all supporters can go to the game thinking their team is a genuine chance to win is incredibly important," said McLachlan.
"... With the interest coming into the season and where the tickets sales were, we were confident in the end we were going to beat that (previous) number.
"But to get 400,000 is a bit of a milestone.
"It clearly hasn't been done before and might be a mark that stands for a while."
The two worst-attended matches of the weekend were North Melbourne against West Coast at Etihad Stadium (21,997) and the Queensland derby at Metricon Stadium, which was outdrawn by the inaugural AFL Women's grand final played at the same venue earlier in the day.
"I think it reflects that Brisbane and Gold Coast had challenging years last year," said McLachlan of the sparse crowd for Brisbane's surprise two-point win.
"Brisbane played very well, Gold Coast played well in the second half.
"Those teams will get there.
"It's a reflection of the football in that state in the last couple of years, but I'm confident in the direction that both clubs are taking."
ROUND ONE CROWDS
73,137 at MCG to watch Richmond beat Carlton
66,254 at MCG to watch Western Bulldogs beat Collingwood
36,249 at Etihad Stadium to watch Melbourne beat St Kilda
33,129 at SCG to watch Port Adelaide beat Sydney
78,294 at MCG to watch Essendon beat Hawthorn
12,710 at Metricon Stadium to watch Brisbane beat Gold Coast
21,997 at Etihad Stadium to watch West Coast beat North Melbourne
43,993 at Adelaide Oval to watch Adelaide beat GWS
34,638 at Domain Stadium to watch Geelong beat Fremantle
TOTAL: 400,401
PREVIOUS RECORD: 371, 212 set during round 15, 2013. total of the record.
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