The Australian Football League (AFL) holds it’s annual Grand Final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground either on the last Saturday in the month of September, or the first Saturday in October.
It’s a much-loved day that holds significance for Australian sporting culture beyond just the local area of Melbourne, to country-wide supporters and viewers. The Friday that precedes the game is the civil public holiday for people in the state of Victoria.
AFL Grand Final Public Holiday 2019 & 2020
AFL Grand Final Day History
Not only does this day mark an important and exciting time in sporting competition, but the Australian Football League Grand Final also serves as a celebration for this long-running national game.
As a cultural appreciation of Australia’s sporting achievement, it’s a chance for the public to come together for a common interest and connect in a vibrant and exciting atmosphere.
Originally the AFL was titled the VFL – Victorian Football League – as it began in the state of Victoria. All teams involved were clubs that were in this state only.
It later expanded during the 80s, and by the time the 1990s came around, a name change occurred as it opened up to clubs from the rest of the country being able to participate. There are currently 18 teams in the AFL, with all states but Tasmania involved in the game.
There’s a pre-season, a regular season and a play off season. Over 4 rounds of playing, eight teams with the best records for the playing seasons go head to head to make the Grand Final.
VFL Origins
The VFL was created in 1897, and for a number of years, experimented with hosting different types of matches to compete for the ‘best team’. The venues for the final games that were created shifted from Albert Park, to St Kilda’s Junction Oval, and the East Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It wasn’t until 1902 that the final was moved to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where it remains today. Previous to this, the MCG purely allowed only cricket be played, thought the VFL managed to convince the grounds to hold their game, which then attracted some 35,000 people to that first game.
By 1908, attendance grew even more to 50,261, setting a new record. It continued to grow in 1912 to almost 55,000 people. During Word War 1, from 1915 to 1930, the attendees of the VFL Grand Final dropped, as people were occupied with wartime support and efforts.
By the Second World War, however, people spent time following the sport again as a welcome distraction from the darker events of 1941 to 1943. Attendance began to steadily rise after that.
With the introduction of the television in Australia in 1956, the VFL Grand Final was pushed by fans to be broadcast live. Since the VFL believed that it would affect the attendance to the live game too much, they only agreed in 1961 to have the match broadcast after the game took place.
As the MCG physically expanded in renovations, record crowd numbers were reached in 1968, 1969 and in 1970. As stated above, the VFL transformed into the AFL in 1990, as this expansion into the rest of the nation allowed non-Victorian football clubs to enter the Premiership.
Between the years of 1992 and 2006, it happened that non-Victorian clubs went on to win 10 out of these 15 premierships. It’s estimated that the costs to put on this big event is around $850 million, as per one month-long government study.
The value of the event is apparent, however, as the future of the Grand Final Games at the MCG is secured. It was announced in 2018 by the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Victorian government that the MCG would continue to host the grand Final match until 2057, at least.
The game has been held at the MCG in all but nine years since the VFL started in 1896. More information about the history can be found here.
Previous Winning Teams of AFL Grand Final
2008
Team: Hawthorn
Opposition: Geelong
Attended by 100,012 spectators, Hawthorn won by a margin of 26 points.
2009
Team: Geelong
Opposition: St. Kilda
With 99,251 spectators, Geelong beat St. Kilda by 12 points.
2010
Team: Collingwood
Opposition: St. Kilda
As the Grand Final ended with a draw, another match occurred the week after, won by Collingwood by a margin of 56 points. 100,016 spectators were at the first game, with 93,853 people attending the deciding game.
2011
Team: Geelong
Opposition: Collingwood
99,537 people attended the MCG to watch Geelong win by a margin of 38 points against Collingwood.
2012
Team: Sydney
Opposition: Hawthorn
Sydney won by a short margin of 10 points, with 99,683 people in attendance.
2013
Team: Hawthorn
Opposition: Fremantle
Hawthorn won the Grand Final match, with 100,007 spectators in attendance. Hawthorn won by 15 points.
2014
Team: Hawthorn
Opposition: Sydney
Again, Hawthorn found victory in this Grand Final, with 99,460 spectators in attendance. A margin of 63 points marked the team as winners.
2015
Team: Hawthorn
Opposition: West Coast
Attended by 98,632 people, this Grand Final saw Hawthorn once again winning, but a margin of 46 points.
2016
Team: Bulldogs
Opposition: Sydney
With 99,981 people watching, the Western Bulldogs won against Sydney by a margin of 22 points.
2017
Team: Richmond
Opposition: Adelaide
With 100,021 spectators, Richmond won by a margin of 48 points.
2018
Team: West Coast
Opposition: Collingwood
The West Coast won against Collingwood by a small 5 points, with 100,022 people watching the game at the MCG.
For more detailed history of previous Final winner’s stats and game information.
Grand Final Match Prizes
Since 1959, the Cup has been awarded to winning team. Before that, each player received a personal trophy only. Now it is the personal medallion for each person in the team, as well as the team also receiving the Cup and the premiership flag.
The current Cup is silver, and made locally in Victoria. One year, the cup was gold, when it was the 100th season of the game in 1996.
The club that wins also receives prize money. The money has been different many years, and is currently $1 million. The cash prize to the winners before 2006 was a smaller amount of $200,000.
Things to Do on AFL Grand Final Day
During the Grand Final Day holiday, there are other events to take part in. The town CBD will be busy during this time, with establishments creating packages for food and beverages to invite people to watch the game in comfort.
Grand Final Parade
On the Friday before the Grand Final – the public holiday – there’s the annual Grand Final Parade that’s been running since 1977. Originally, the parade was based in the Melbourne CDB along a particular route, up until 2014.
In 2015, the parade day was declared a public holiday and this changed the route, as many office building were now vacant as these people were off work. That shifted the direction the parade ran.
The parade attracts more than 100,000 fans every year. The parade involves the Grand Final Teams being showcased in various automobiles, as well as marching bands and other entertainers and music.
Grand Final Breakfast
Since 1967, there has been a North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast event where a variety of football players, past and present, as well as politicians, attend on the lead up to the game.
The breakfast is broadcast live, and it’s officially endorsed by the AFL. Organisers like to invite the most popular and relevant people in business, sport, entertainment, and politics. There’s also a grand auction at the breakfast, which gives all proceeds to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Match Entertainment
Before the match begins, there is always a show put on for the public with some pre-match entertainment. There will be the club’s song performed live, as well as generally some other music and possibly dance entertainment. Each year it’s different.
The half-time entertainment ended in 2014, when it was decided that pre-match was a better time to offer performances. Post-match, there is presentations and celebrations, and many famous Australian musicians are often highlighted. The event post-match is open to all people, regardless of whether they watched the match at the MCG or not.
Best Way to Get to the MCG
Trains
The MCG has two train stations very close by: Jolimont and Richmond. Take a look at the train schedule with a quick online search to see where you can get a train from to arrive to these stations.
Trams
The tram routes that access the MCG are no.75, no.70 and no.48.
Busses
The National Bus Company provides a route to the grounds – number 246.
Taxis
Taxi’s can drop off patrons at any of the three entrances, and they will be waiting to be hailed at the end of the event outside the grounds.
Cars
Car parking, including disabled, is available on event days in Yarra Park. It’s usually about $10 per car.
Cycling and Walking
Bicycles can be stored on racks at the MCG on the external concourse.
Pedestrians can also access the stadium via a pedestrian bridge; there are a few of them in different locations.
To check out more details and instructions for getting to the MCG, read here.
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