Melbourne reclaims title as home of Aussie Rules footy as crowds return to the MCG

Two hours before the first bounce of the 2022 AFL season opener, the MCG is already buzzing.

It's a grand final rematch – Melbourne vs the Western Bulldogs. 

Outside the ground a musician sings covers of Aussie classics on stage, kids kick footballs at targets and signs proclaim a «festival of footy».

Just over 58,000 people have travelled from far and wide to be here.

After two years of lockdowns, and week after week of being locked out of games, the fans are ready to celebrate.

There was no way the warm, humid evening was going to stop them from dusting off their team scarves or bringing out their beanies.

Melbourne supporters Amber and Travis Bull and their three kids Lukas, Charlotte and Josh left the regional Victorian city of Ballarat at 2.30pm to be here, taking half a day off work and school.

«We weren't going to miss this,» Ms Bull said.

«This is pretty awesome.»

With the AFL season getting underway this evening, Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson run the rule over how the 18 clubs are looking in their pursuit of premiership success.

Before COVID the family tried to attend all Melbourne's home games — it was a chance to support their team and catch up with extended family from other parts of the state.

Being unable to attend matches during the pandemic left a big hole in their lives.

«You get a different feeling watching from the TV,» Mr Bull said.

«We missed our team playing some of the best footy they've ever played.»

Last year they came to games when crowd capacity was at 25-30 per cent, but Mr Bull said it was «just weird».

Now, with the MCG once again allowed to host 100 per cent capacity crowds the Bulls feel like the state they know and love is back – Melbourne is once again the home of footy.

«It's exciting,» Charlotte said.