Even AFL players struggled to get their head around the sight of football being played in front of 100,000 empty seats at the MCG.

“This is the most bizarre s*** I’ve ever seen!” wrote Brisbane player Mitch Robinson.

That message came just minutes into Richmond’s season-opening clash with Carlton, which was given the green light on Wednesday night amid the coronavirus pandemic.

While the football world has known crowds would not be allowed into games for a week the eerie scenes hit home as soon as the players ran out.

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The two teams warmed up to music like AC/DC and the Rolling Stones blaring around the empty MCG while Channel 7 hosts interviewed players and coaches from a distance.

As the game neared, verdicts rushed in.

Collingwood’s Mason Cox was already fearing for the audio technician responsible for the broadcast microphones:

Some fans even began to wonder if the boundary-line microphones would be muted if a player reacted to a painful injury usually muffled by the crowd.

Hawthorn star Chad Wingard wanted stadium operators to continue playing music after goals:

After Robinson added his view, the Lions player backed one fan’s thought bubble of adding a suburban and country footy staple to the mix: car horns.

Former Adelaide player and TV identity Ryan Fitzgerald thought the stands looked familiar:

Other peculiarities were picked up, with 7NEWS chief football reporter Mark Stevens wondering why the MCG’s two big screens were switched on:

Richmond, who kicked the first five goals of the game, held on amid a late Carlton charge to win 16.9 (105) to 12.9 (81).

Tigers players made their own noise in lieu of fans after Shane Edwards recorded the first major but their cheers lessened as the first quarter went on.

The rush of goals provided AFL assistants with plenty of work collecting the footballs from under seats, with nets not in use.

The MCG will host another game with empty stands on Sunday. Credit: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Carlton suffered a blow for the remainder of the game when ruckman Matthew Kreuzer rolled his ankle upon landing in a first-term ruck contest.

He was on crutches in the rooms as the game continued.

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In the second quarter, the Blues suffered further when Nic Newman appeared to hurt his elbow in an aerial contest but the former Swans player was able to return.

The Blues were already without veteran recruit Eddie Betts, who watched from home after sustaining a calf injury during the week.

At half-time Richmond vice-captain Jack Riewoldt said he was enjoying playing without 80,000-plus fans blocking out his directions.

“It’s a really weird feeling out here. As much as I’d love the fans here I’m really enjoying being able to coach a little bit from all aspects of the ground,” he told Channel 7.

“All over the ground we’ve got some really good leaders. It sort of makes communication a bit easier but there definitely is a lack of atmosphere.”

Geelong great Cameron Ling said experienced players’ voices can “become a weapon” while games remain behind closed doors.