Last year, in response to some falling crowd numbers, the AFL urged its clubs to do more to "engage the crowd". On the face of it this was a good thing. Clubs needed to find out why people weren't coming to the football any longer and what they could do to change this. I went to the footy last Saturday to see how this new approach was working.

I can think of two reasons for going to a match rather than watching it in comfort at home. First, our game is played on such a large ground that television struggles to convey the full drama of it. Unlike soccer and rugby, our game is actually better at the ground than on TV. Secondly, at the ground you are part of the event – you contribute to the shouting and cheering, the chanting and singing. At the ground there is "atmosphere", and you can contribute to this as much, or as little, as you choose.

Going to the footy ain't what it used to be: Richmond fans at the MCG in 1974.

At least, that's the theory. But for some years the AFL and its clubs have worked hard and spent much money on destroying the atmosphere at live games. I wish that "destroying" was too strong a word, but it isn't. Except while the game is actually in progress, everyone at the ground is subject to very loud music, obnoxious ads – many imploring us to gamble on the footy – and moronic announcements from a spruiker with a strong claim to be The Most Annoying Man in the World.

You can't hear the roar of the crowd as you approach the ground, as you once did and there is little crowd noise once you're inside. There's just loud, loud music. Followed by loud ads, the annoying spruiker and more loud music. Never mind getting a good chant or a song going, it's hard enough to have a conversation with the person next to you.