Whether you are a Swans or Cats fan this Saturday’s 2022 AFL Grand Final is special for more than one reason.
For the first time since 2017, both qualifying winners claimed victory in their home preliminary finals, with the Cats defeating Brisbane and Sydney breaking Collingwood's heart with a one-point nail-biting win.
While both teams are original VFL clubs dating back to 1897, this will be their first-ever meeting in a Grand Final - it is also the first Grand Final back at Melbourne’s MCG since 2019, with the last two being played in Brisbane and Perth due to COVID.
Grab your scarf, hat and footy guernsey and get ready for live entertainment from Robbie Williams and Australian artists, before the first bounce. Here are five venues to ball up on Saturday:
Find a small country pub with a dog-friendly beer garden, great food, local brews and wine at Buffalo Brewery – Boorhaman Hotel on Boorhaman Road. Drop by any time or day and discover locals sitting out front having a yarn about the weather, cattle or wheat prices as they enjoy a cold one; while indoors oozes country charm.
Join mates on Saturday to catch all the action and chow down on Japanese-style fried chicken and sriracha aioli to start; before devouring Golden Ale battered fish, chips, house salad, tartar sauce and lemon.
Grand Final Day at The Bridge Hotel is back, baby! Enjoy your favourite dishes and drinks at your favourite local pub on Bridge Road in Richmond, all brought to your table so you can focus on what matters…FOOTY!
Revel in Grand Final action live and loud while enjoying a four-hour drinks package with tap beer, cider, house wine and non-alcoholic options, plus your choice of main meal such as Porterhouse steak, dressed leaves, chips and peppercorn sauce; or a cheeseburger, with ketchup, American mustard, pickles, lettuce and chips.
Watch all the goals and hits from the outdoor herb garden pizzeria at Trawool Estate Wild Water Restaurant on Goulburn Highway in Trawool this weekend - a huge 240-inch screen means everyone has a perfect view of the game, along with drink specials, $15 pizzas and door prizes.
Proudly named after the translation of the local Aboriginal word Traawool and nestled in The Trawool Estate, this casual dining venue has a light, bright vibe from a full glass frontage allowing sweeping views of the countryside, blond wood table settings and potted greenery.
Indulge in top-notch seafood throughout the grand final while sipping on the best wine, champagne and top-shelf spirits until the final siren at RST Seafood Restaurant on Rae Street in North Fitzroy. Expect all your favourites and signature dishes on the menu such as lobster slyders, pan-seared scallops wrapped in prosciutto and mains like grilled fresh fish, with sides of rocket, pear and Parmesan salad and chunky chips.
With stunning water views and a casually elegant dining room, RST evokes the feel of the sea with crisp white tablecloths, teamed with nautical touches, making it casual enough for families and proper enough for all-comers.
Expect a special dining experience in Melbourne’s iconic O’Connell Reserve at Reserve Dining on Bridge Road in Richmond. This stylish restaurant is historic Amora Hotel Riverwalk’s home of fantastic eats and drinks, with a robust menu showcasing the very best local produce, complemented by a bar offering the best Scotch whiskey.
Make your way through a three-course lunch, halftime snacks and a four-hour beverage package on Saturday while watching the Cats and Swans do battle on three big screens in the courtyard or bar.
Still looking for somewhere to kick the winning goal? Click here for more venues near you.
