
Played in the 60,000-capacity, football/cricket-roofed Telstra Dome (currently envied by English Premier League club, Birmingham City) the crowd for the semi final between reigning premier Port Adelaide and the fifth-placed Kangaroos was the lowest in Melbourne in 63 years.
However, just across town, the second round of Australian soccer's new A-League brought Melbourne Victory its first home game at the 18,000-capacity Olympic Park.
With all tickets sold 90 minutes before kick-off, 17,960 crammed the venue to watch Melbourne's fighting 2-2 draw with Perth Glory.