Essendon members and supporters are warming to Colonial Stadium with the venue having attracted the largest crowd of all matches for the past two rounds.

In round 11, the Essendon v Geelong crowd was the largest of the weekend, attracting 47,071. The venue again topped the list last weekend.

The attendance figures for round 12 were:

Essendon v St Kilda 39836

Collingwood v Geelong 34367

Adelaide v Sydney 30353

Brisbane v Richmond 29967

Hawthorn v Fremantle 16004

West Coast v Carlton 39672

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne 26180

Kangaroos v Port Adelaide 6963

Round 12 total 2000: 223342

Round 12 total 1999: 234585

“It’s a fantastic result for Colonial Stadium and Essendon Football Club. Last Friday night’s match drew the biggest crowd of the round and total attendances were virtually the same as last year,” Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said.

“It is a very encouraging result, particularly so given the size of the crowd in Sydney.”

“To achieve the result on such a bitterly cold and wet Friday night was a vote of confidence in the stadium and the comfort it provides supporters with.

"Spectators watched quality football played in excellent conditions. These results have been achieved despite some pretty major matches being played at the MCG.”