Could the Brisbane Lions make history in today’s AFL Grand Final with their second threepeat in 25 years? Will the Fremantle Dockers win their first flag since joining the league in ’95? And what time does the Kylie concert start? All important questions for gay footy fans.
When we asked Freo fan Bart Dekker about when he became a fan of the team, he shared that his relationship to AFL was “complicated”.
“Because I played a bit of AFL at high school, and honestly, I had the worst time,” he said. “It was awful because everyone just didn’t feel safe.”
It’s an experience many queer people know of. Years later, he entered the workforce and found his work was a sponsor of the team, and this opened him up to experiencing AFL differently.
“It prompted me to have another rethink, and I’ve got to fall back in love with not just the game, but team sports as well,” Bart said. “We love an underdog, and we bloody love the Dockers, and just seeing the rise to glory over this time has just been phenomenal.”
Die-hard Lions fan Ben Monaghan has travelled from Brisbane to Melbourne for his fourth grand final.
“I actually can’t believe we made another grand final this year,” he said, chatting from a pub in Fitzroy surrounded by fellow Lions fans.
Images Supplied“I’m very excited about the Grand Final. I hope that we can do three in a row, which is why I’ve come down for it. I can’t miss it in case we win it.”
“I’ve been a member since 2013, so 13 years, and I’ve been a supporter since the 90s. I probably started following them back in 1998.” [When the team were the Brisbane Bears]
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‘I plan to get clapped away by the good vibes’
For both Bart and Ben, seeing their teams reach this year’s Grand Final is something special.
“I went to a lot of games over the years and often saw Freo get smashed.” Bart shared. “So much I thought about stopping going.”
“The whole of Perth is just in awe of how they’re playing, how they’re showing up on and off the field. The purple wave has overtaken the whole city. We’re just getting swept up in the excitement.”
“Growing up, everything was about the West Coast Eagles. Freo was the underdog; it was kind of cool and hip to be a Frio supporter as opposed to the mainstream Eagles.”
Want to watch the Grand Final in Fremantle? Big screen alcohol-free locations are set up in Cappuccino Strip, Walyalup Koort (accessible zone), Esplanade Park (family-friendly zone) and at the corner of Market and High Streets (outside the National Hotel).
Sites are open from 8 am to 6 pm, and roads are closed from midday Friday to Sunday, stretching from the Fremantle Train Station to the end of the Cappuccino Strip at the Fremantle Markets. Best to make use of the free public transport.
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Bart is planning to head out and watch the game with mates, but that’s not all he is excited for.
“I can’t wait for the Kylie concert, of course,” he laughed. “We’re going to go to the pub. Everywhere is absolutely buzzing and popping off with excitement, and there are plenty of places to watch the game. I can’t wait to be surrounded by folks, and just bask in the glory, atmosphere and excitement. I plan to get clapped away by the good vibes.”
‘There’ll definitely be tears if we win for sure’
For Ben, it’s not just about the game; it’s the whole build-up.
“I came to Melbourne on Thursday to just soak up that atmosphere,” he shared. “Right now, I’m standing at a pub in Fitzroy, which has obviously got the Brisbane history where the teams merged, and I’m just surrounded by Lions supporters in their scarves. Everyone’s singing the song and chanting; we are talking about the game, and I went to the parade as well.”
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“It’s not just about the game itself; it’s the build-up and the excitement and the nervous energy that you have like right up until the kickoff. Footy is just exciting to watch, and Brisbane has always been the team that I’ve supported.”
“Watching a game on TV compared to live is a completely different experience. Having that raw atmosphere, I can’t put words together to describe it, especially in a do-or-die game like this.
“The fact that we did a threepeat 23 years ago, and now have an opportunity to do another in this century, is history in itself. That’s why I’m here and why I’m excited. There’ll definitely be tears if we win for sure.”
What time is the Kylie concert?
Whether you’re a fan of the Lions or the Dockers or just in it for Kylie, here are the (rough) times of today’s action.
Grand Final Day pre-match entertainment (AEST):
- G Flip performance at 1:25 pm
- Toyota Retiree Motorcade and Mike Brady performance at 1:33 pm
- Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment featuring Kylie Minogue at 1:39 pm
- National Anthem performed by Michael Paynter at 2:26 pm
Here’s the kick-off time according to which state or territory you’re in:
- 2.30 pm AEST: ACT, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria
- 2 pm ACST: Northern Territory, South Australia
- 12.30 pm AWST: Western Australia
G Flip to open Kylie’s AFL Grand Final performanceSource: Instagram/AFL.com.au
Data shared by Victoria Police show that there is a 20% spike in domestic violence on Grand Final day and the days surrounding it, specifically violence against women.
Victorian-based family violence service Berry Street recorded more than double the number of calls for help in the week following the AFL Grand Final for the past two years.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, you can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
