Football fans have an even greater reason to wear their team’s colours and head to the footy this season with the return of Sunday Funday and Kick-to-Kick.

The two initiatives are back by popular demand for the 2016 Toyota AFL Premiership Season after fans voted with their feet in 2015.

Children under the age of 15, who accompany an adult, will again be offered free General Admission to matches on Sunday at Etihad Stadium and the MCG.

In addition, fans will be given the chance to enjoy a kick-to-kick after the final siren on the ground at a total of 96 matches Australia wide this season. 

AFL General Manager Clubs and AFL Operations Travis Auld said the AFL was thrilled to continue kick-to-kick and Sunday Funday in to 2016.

“One of the our major objectives over the past 18 months has been to improve the accessibility and affordability of attending matches,” Mr Auld said.

“Free entry for children under 15 on Sundays at Etihad Stadium and the MCG makes attending the football really affordable for families at a really appealing time-slot, and this proved a great success in 2015.

“Overall attendances at the MCG and Etihad Stadium on Sundays increased by 14 per cent, while the average number of junior fans at Sunday games increased by 30%.

“Of the clubs who played four or more Sunday matches last year, all increased the number of total junior members, and saw the number of junior members who attended on Sundays increase significantly.

“Overall attendances were strong in 2015 and the addition of these initiatives can only help to make attending games attractive to all fans, especially families.” 

Mr Auld also announced the schedule for kick-to-kick matches across the country.

“There is no doubt our fans love the tradition of having a kick on the ground after the final siren,” Mr Auld said.

“With close to half the matches during the home-and-away season including this opportunity, it shows that the AFL and our stadium partners are committed to continuing this tradition. 

“We appreciate our partners accommodating this initiative while also balancing the need to prepare their grounds to such high standards.”

Due to the difficulty of maintaining the surface of grounds during the Melbourne winter, no games during June and July at the MCG and Etihad Stadium will include the opportunity to enter the arena after the final siren. 

Full details at afl.com.au/SundayFunday

Essendon's kick-to-kick schedule:

Round 1, Metricon Stadium - Gold Coast vs. Essendon

Round 6, MCG - Carlton vs. Essendon

Round 7, SCG - Sydney Swans vs. Essendon

Round 9, ES - St. Kilda vs. Essendon

Round 21, ES - Essendon vs. Gold Coast Suns

Round 22, ES - Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs