In Victoria, friendships can start and end by the declaration of one’s AFL team. That’s a big statement, and I can see all those keyboard warriors sharpening up their hunt and pecker’s, lol.
As an interstate interloper currently residing in Melbourne, and also a Brisbane Lions stan, I’m not unfamiliar with the one-eyedness (yep, that’s a word) that goes with AFL worship. But Victorians are next level! And I say that with respect (caps lock and bold, but not IRL as I don’t want to appear shouty.)
Going to the footy in Melbourne isn’t just like rocking up to the local QAFL game in Brissie, with your camp chair and a thermos filled with banned liquids. It’s a revered event, and here’s how it rolls.
Hours before the first bounce, we all jump on a train to Flinders Street. It feels like an “us and them” scenario, with everyone decked out in various jerseys, scarves, buttons, caps, beanies, and flags, but there’s absolutely no judgement. Lots of bilateral discussions on why we might lose because blah blah is out…or why we might win because blah blah is in.
This was an absolute revelation to me. I guess, coming from Brisbane, when you are training it to the Gabba, everyone is in maroon. With many of the AFL teams from Melbourne, the diversity is exciting.
We all congregate at various bars in the CBD and I feel there’s an unspoken code as to which bars are your teams “go to” but I haven’t cracked it yet. Everyone is animated, chatting, chugging beers, stuffing food in, because even though it’s the MOST awesome sports arena in Australia, it still serves up dirty pies and salty fries!
After that, there’s the 17-minute (1.2km) walk from Fed Square to the “G”, the mighty MCG. One of my fave parts. It’s a beautiful stroll along the Yarra and the vibe is palpable. Once at the G, you find your seat (and pray to the AFL Gods that you aren’t the only Lions fans sitting amongst a sea of Pies supporters!), grab a beer at boujee prices in a plastic cup (they just don’t taste the same), and settle in for the spectacle!
I have been to a heap of AFL games now, both at the G and Marvel Stadium, and it’s always an extravaganza and never disappoints. I was super fortunate, to snag tickets to the Preliminary final in 2023, between GWS and Collingwood. It was my first AFL final at the G, or anywhere in fact, and OMG, it slapped! There were 97,000 fans (mostly Collingwood) and the spine-tingling sound when 90% of the stadium roared when a goal was scored was truly breath-taking.
Post game, there’s either the walk of shame or the stride of pride, back to Flinders Street station, where everyone piles onto trains or trams, back-to-back, shoulder to shoulder, cramming into each other’s personal space. But there’s no animosity between rival fans, just bilateral chat of “better luck next time” and armchair experts offering their opinions on how they would have run the game.
This experience is one for the journal. If you are visiting Melbourne in footy season, put this on your bucket list!
