Fans flood MCG as grand final hype builds
Fans are pouring into the MCG ahead of today’s AFL grand final between Hawthorn and West Coast, which begins at 2.30pm.
Some Melbourne Cricket Club members queued for days outside the MCG hoping to grab a prime seat when the doors open.
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Others began queuing up overnight.
Fans had a good time camping out overnight, enjoying the festivities and unseasonably warm overnight temperatures.
“It was a beautiful night, sleeping up on the grass,” one fan said.
“[We did] a bit of sleeping, [there was] a lot of entertainment, a lot of company, chatting, solving the world’s problems,” another added.
The Hawks are hoping to make history by winning the prestigious sporting trophy three times in a row and Eagles coach Adam Simpson said any premiership was going to have to be snatched from Hawthorn.
It was a costly trip east for approximately 25,000 West Coast fans who travelled to Melbourne for the big day, hoping to witness the Eagles win their first flag since 2006.
It is a path well-travelled for Hawks fans, with their team in their fourth grand final in as many years and going for a history-making third consecutive premiership.
Today’s game means the winning team will be wearing yellow, it is just a question of whether it is with the brown of Hawthorn or West Coast’s blue.
The day’s program includes a curtain raiser at 10:00am with the Australian under 17s playing against the All Star under 18s.
There will be a farewell trip around the MCG for 13 retiring players, including Carlton’s Chris Judd at 1:30pm
The entertainment begins at 1:40pm with singers Ellie Goulding and Bryan Adams performing.
The national anthem will be played at 2:26pm, followed by the toss of the coin and kickoff at 2:30pm.
The festivities wrap up with a post-match premiership party at the MCG at 7:30pm.