Grand final day

[Papa G]

You actually believe that the AFL Grand Final is as prestigious as other major sporting events around the world?? Outside of Australia the game is irrelevant.

Not sure Deano's been beyond the Western Ring road.

 

[dean33]

Not sure Deano's been beyond the Western Ring road.

You believe what you want to believe champ

 

[dean33]

You actually believe that the AFL Grand Final is as prestigious as other major sporting events around the world?? Outside of Australia the game is irrelevant.

Yep no doubt no one cares about it outside of the country, what I said was it stacks up against any big major event around the world, I’ve been to a few and the grand final sits easily alongside any. Maybe you’ve never experienced it or you have and not experienced big sporting events overseas to appreciate it.
People here think they do things bigger and better overseas when you watch on tv and when you actually experience it live you understand we do it just as good if not better.

 

[Chewy316]

Yep no doubt no one cares about it outside of the country, what I said was it stacks up against any big major event around the world, I’ve been to a few and the grand final sits easily alongside any. Maybe you’ve never experienced it or you have and not experienced big sporting events overseas to appreciate it.
People here think they do things bigger and better overseas when you watch on tv and when you actually experience it live you understand we do it just as good if not better.

So because I disagree with you, you assume that my life experience is ill informed to make a contrary decision to yours? Do you really want to go there?

I've been to multiple AFL grand finals, 3 A-League grand finals, an FA Cup semi final, multiple NFL primetime games where I've been a personal guest of one of the teams and have met the team's owner, president and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, multiple NBA games, multiple F1 GPs & a lot more, and it's my opinion that the AFL grand final doesn't hold a candle to the majority of these events.

My top 2 experiences at the G atmosphere wise was the 2006 boxing day test when Warnie got his 700th bowling Strauss, and the 2015 world cup final when Johnson bowled McCullum in the first over. The AFL grand final is a good atmosphere, but it's just not up there with other major sporting events unless you are over-romanticising the history of the MCG.

 

[dean33]

So because I disagree with you, you assume that my life experience is ill informed to make a contrary decision to yours? Do you really want to go there?

I've been to multiple AFL grand finals, 3 A-League grand finals, an FA Cup semi final, multiple NFL primetime games where I've been a personal guest of one of the teams and have met the team's owner, president and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, multiple NBA games, multiple F1 GPs & a lot more, and it's my opinion that the AFL grand final doesn't hold a candle to the majority of these events.

My top 2 experiences at the G atmosphere wise was the 2006 boxing day test when Warnie got his 700th bowling Strauss, and the 2015 world cup final when Johnson bowled McCullum in the first over. The AFL grand final is a good atmosphere, but it's just not up there with other major sporting events unless you are over-romanticising the history of the MCG.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I’ve also been to multiple NFL games, World Cup soccer games, Le Classico at the nou camp, epl matches and I’ve loved them all. Still think the afl grand final as an event stacks up with them all.
We agree to disagree.

 

[ep2018]

multiple NFL primetime games where I've been a personal guest of one of the teams and have met the team's owner, president and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

Wow what a story to tell if you could!

I have a few mates who a couple years ago started following NFL/NBA/MLB etc and just dropped following AFL due to the discrepancy between the leagues.

 

[Farang83150]

Oz rules is by far and away my favourite sport but I've been to 3 different soccer WCs and an Oz rules GF doesn't come close atmosphere or build up wise.

 

[dean33]

Oz rules is by far and away my favourite sport but I've been to 3 different soccer WCs and an Oz rules GF doesn't come close atmosphere or build up wise.

Soccer world cups I agree are number 1 when it comes to atmosphere, for me nothing gets close to national teams playing each other and fans of those teams create their own atmosphere. Although depends where the World Cup is, Germany for example was unbelievable for atmosphere while South Africa was lacking.

 

[Chewy316]

Wow what a story to tell if you could!

I have a few mates who a couple years ago started following NFL/NBA/MLB etc and just dropped following AFL due to the discrepancy between the leagues.

Was a sheer fluke. Was tailgating with a bunch of Raider fans back in 2007 at the Oakland Coliseum and their CEO at the time Amy Trask literally walked past our tailgate. A bunch of my friends pulled her aside and was like "this guy is from Australia!" So we get chatting and within 20 minutes a camera crew and reporter are there from the Raiders website doing a story on me coming from Australia for the game.

From there we kept in touch over the years, & during that time i had a private tour of the Raiders facility which is generally off limits to anyone other than team personnel and media. Also was given pre game sideline field passes for pretty much every game I attended, that was how I met Commissioner Goodell. Dude is short but his handshake was like a vice! At one stage the team was headed to Miami on a road trip and they said if i got my flights sorted that they would take care of the rest. So I diverted my holiday (I was meant to.be in NYC that weekend) to Miami, stayed at the team hotel the night before the game, caught one of the buses with some players and execs pre-game to the stadium (you get a police escort to the stadium, it was wild), and then spent the entire game on the sideline helping out the equipment manager. Closest thing I've ever felt to being a rock star.

 

[dean33]

Was a sheer fluke. Was tailgating with a bunch of Raider fans back in 2007 at the Oakland Coliseum and their CEO at the time Amy Trask literally walked past our tailgate. A bunch of my friends pulled her aside and was like "this guy is from Australia!" So we get chatting and within 20 minutes a camera crew and reporter are there from the Raiders website doing a story on me coming from Australia for the game.

From there we kept in touch over the years, & during that time i had a private tour of the Raiders facility which is generally off limits to anyone other than team personnel and media. Also was given pre game sideline field passes for pretty much every game I attended, that was how I met Commissioner Goodell. Dude is short but his handshake was like a vice! At one stage the team was headed to Miami on a road trip and they said if i got my flights sorted that they would take care of the rest. So I diverted my holiday (I was meant to.be in NYC that weekend) to Miami, stayed at the team hotel the night before the game, caught one of the buses with some players and execs pre-game to the stadium (you get a police escort to the stadium, it was wild), and then spent the entire game on the sideline helping out the equipment manager. Closest thing I've ever felt to being a rock star.

Ok you can’t compare that experience to sitting in the great southern stand on grand final day. I think you’d need a seat in the coaches box to beat that.

 

[Chewy316]

Ok you can’t compare that experience to sitting in the great southern stand on grand final day. I think you’d need a seat in the coaches box to beat that.

Still wouldn't beat it seeing as I was interacting with the players all game haha.

Generally speaking though, the biggest issue the grand final has is that there are too many corporates at the game. It is not for the fans. ANZAC day and preliminary finals packed at the G offer a superior.atmosphere imo.

 

[Xtreme]

AFL gonna drag out Mike Brady till he's in a wheel chair to sing up there cazaly

So sick of hearing that song on GF day

WTF

The AFL are so concerned with entertainment moreso than the game itself. The only thing they need is Mike Brady singing one day in September/October and up there Cazaly.

They are our footy anthems!!

 

[who_let_the_dogs_out]

For me, and a few other dogs supporters I've spoken to, the prelim win in 2016 was a more emotional experience. Have never wept like I did that night. Joy and relief all rolled into one. I'd seen 6 prelim losses before that night and 7 would have just about done me in.

The build up to the GF was awesome. I was a bundle of nerves, but just thrilled that finally, after 35 years of being a supporter I got to see my team involved. The parade on Friday was brilliant, being amongst a sea of red, white and blue.

GF day was hard to enjoy, nerves redlining until about 3 mins left in the game, then it was party mode. Singing the song on repeat near the cheer squad with my brother and then watching the sun set on the ground during the live music in premiership bliss. Walked to fed square afterwards for drinks, and just soaked it all in.

Celebrated with 10,000 dogs supporters at Whitten Oval the next day. Those 3 days will be hard to beat.

 

[FRUMPY]

Today should be grand final day if it was a normal season but of course this year is anything but normal. Pubs and bars around the g should be heaving and the mighty mcg would have fans starting to trickle in.
I’ve been to a few grand finals over the years, my first being a teenager in 1992 watching the eagles take the cup interstate for the first time on the back of a bloke named Matera, my last being the last game of footy I saw live watching my beloved tigers destroy the giants.
The atmosphere on the day is something really special, for what you are about to witness will be talked about for years to come. Heroes will be made and mistakes will be cried over for years by the losing sides fans. Some fans are lucky enough to witness their side win flags every few years while others wait a lifetime.
What is your favourite grand final memory, not just the game itself but the pregame, post game or anything in between?

Went to the 1993 and 1994 grand finals on my cousins AFL membership. The days when first in best dressed in AFL members so you got there at 6am and lined up. 1993 we were about 10 rows back in the top tier and 1994 middle bottom level. Being a carlton fan 1993 sucked ass but the whole day of anticipation was great. Watched the Northern Knights win a flag (im from that area so was interested in them) and then the reserves. Too bad 1993 was over by quarter time.

1994 i could just sit and watch as didnt care who won. Eagles dominated from about min 2nd term but the Billy Brownless mark was amazing.

1995 my dad got caught using my uncles AFL membership in an earleir final so we couldnt go to the grand final (and of course thats the year Carlton won).

Went to 1999 and while didnt expect a win (our grand final was the week before and north a clearly better side) but was an enjoyable first half while we were 'in the contest'.

It really is an amazing event when your team is in it (wish i could have another taste some time soon) - even if you dont go to the game the whole build up is amazing and you just soak it all in and wait for game time. A night grand final would make it a long day if you are a fan.

 

[dean33]

Still wouldn't beat it seeing as I was interacting with the players all game haha.

Generally speaking though, the biggest issue the grand final has is that there are too many corporates at the game. It is not for the fans. ANZAC day and preliminary finals packed at the G offer a superior.atmosphere imo.

I hear what you’re saying, the 2017 prelim was unbelievable with 90k Richmond fans and probably my favourite Richmond game of all time. The nerves on prelim day were the highest for me as we hadn’t been to a grand final in 35 years so just making it was incredible. Plus the noise on the day was something I’ve never experienced with the whole stadium packed with Richmond fans. Grand final day was just a happy to be there with the build up and the day itself, in 2017 I didn’t have any nerves I was just so happy we made it, obviously the more you make the expectation grows. I also think the Friday parade day now is so much better than in years past with it ending in Yarra park and the teams presented on a big stage. Bars and food trucks set up and heaps of things for the kids, you can spend the whole day there now as last year I took my young son and he loved it while in 2017 I sat in a bar off stage drinking. Brilliant set up.