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Congratulations! We have made it to the greatest Saturday in September, that one day, when football’s best and brightest – in this case the Pies and the Lions – go head to head in the AFL grand final. The game that stops a nation state and sends even those with the most tenuous connections to AFL into a frothing frenzy, and so it should.
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If the scenes at the parade in Melbourne yesterday are anything to go by, Collingwood will dominate this grand final – in the stands at the very least – and it is going to be a raucous day. The AFL estimated there were 300,000 fans along the route through the city and along the Yarra River.
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The first bounce is at 2.30pm but there is a lot to get through in the next few hours. I’ll be taking you through all the pre-game news and entertainment, plus sharing insights and analysis from the Guardian’s sportswriters on these two teams, and bringing you the latest from inside and outside the MCG in the lead-up to the first bounce.
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Please get in touch with any questions or thoughts, Collingwood, Lions or other. You can find me on X, formerly Twitter, @_jokhan or shoot me an email.
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The AFL grand final, and indeed this blog and blogger, are coming to you from Wurundjeri country today. Uncle Colin Hunter Jr will deliver the Welcome to Country before the bounce.
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Let’s get into it!
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Key events
Here’s an update from Yarra Trams about getting to the G
@AFL finals football is live at the @MCG today when @CollingwoodFC do battle with @brisbanelions. We’ve got extra trams to get you to and from the big match!
Details: https://t.co/WIsIwFhq8r
Plan your journey https://t.co/TXiiaUZGtV#Collingwood #BrisbaneLions #PTV pic.twitter.com/Q1OFiS2yi8
— Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) September 30, 2023
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And while we’re on transportation, earlier this week we heard that some fans were going to extraordinary lengths to get to Melbourne, and that flight and accommodation prices were soaring.
Guardian sport reporter Jack Snape met a couple at the parade yesterday who had driven down from Brisbane (straight after arriving back from an overseas trip) and were still on the hunt for tickets and accommodation. Serious dedication, or foolishness, not sure. I hope they found somewhere.
Have you been on the road for three days, or are you flying in from overseas for this? I would love to hear your grand final travel stories, and just generally what people are up to today.
My (English) parents used to always book a holiday for this weekend because it was quiet out of town! Thanks mum and dad.
A sight for sore eyes this morning. Would you look at this stadium … just magical.
Good morning and welcome to Grand Final day. pic.twitter.com/PhYw3pM73u
— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) September 29, 2023
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Good morning!
Jo Khan
Hello, Jo Khan here with you on this glorious spring day.
Congratulations! We have made it to the greatest Saturday in September, that one day, when football’s best and brightest – in this case the Pies and the Lions – go head to head in the AFL grand final. The game that stops a nation state and sends even those with the most tenuous connections to AFL into a frothing frenzy, and so it should.
If the scenes at the parade in Melbourne yesterday are anything to go by, Collingwood will dominate this grand final – in the stands at the very least – and it is going to be a raucous day. The AFL estimated there were 300,000 fans along the route through the city and along the Yarra River.
The first bounce is at 2.30pm but there is a lot to get through in the next few hours. I’ll be taking you through all the pre-game news and entertainment, plus sharing insights and analysis from the Guardian’s sportswriters on these two teams, and bringing you the latest from inside and outside the MCG in the lead-up to the first bounce.
Please get in touch with any questions or thoughts, Collingwood, Lions or other. You can find me on X, formerly Twitter, @_jokhan or shoot me an email.
The AFL grand final, and indeed this blog and blogger, are coming to you from Wurundjeri country today. Uncle Colin Hunter Jr will deliver the Welcome to Country before the bounce.
Let’s get into it!
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