Weekend to satisfy all footy fans

WITH the grand finals of Australia's two biggest sports to be followed by a public holiday on Monday, Ipswich pubs are getting ready for a bumper weekend.

Picture: Getty Images Sport - Cameron Spencer

IPSWICH pubs are getting ready for a bumper weekend.

With the grand finals of Australia's two biggest sports to be followed by a public holiday on Monday, pubs and clubs are gearing up for some of their busiest days of the year.

This year is the first time the two grand finals and the Queen's Birthday holiday have fallen on the one weekend in Queensland.

Brothers Leagues Club general manager Mark Hennelly said he was hoping people would take advantage of the long weekend.

"It's essentially a double-header of grand finals this weekend, and that's not even mentioning the racing that gets people here most weekends," he said.

"We're hoping we'll have a good crowd here on both days.

"It's been a long time since the AFL and NRL grand finals were on the same weekend,

Yamanto Tavern manager Peter Coultas said he was hoping the range of beers at the tavern's newest bar would get people out for the long weekend.

"These days a lot of people fire up the barbie, but we're hoping the beers we've got on tap here will be an attraction," he said.

"We're hoping for a big weekend. Certainly we'll have all the TVs tuned into the footy.

"We've already had a few calls from people asking if we'll have it on. With the public holiday on Monday I'm sure it'll be great weekend."

The Racehorse Hotel in Booval is taking the weekend one step further by putting on post-game entertainment.

Acting manager Erin Crone said the hotel would hold an Absolutely '80s night with performances from Aussie '80s music legends Brian Mannix from the Uncanny X Men, Scott Carne from Kids in the Kitchen and Dale Ryder from Boom Crash Opera.

"We'll be showing the games on Saturday and Sunday and then have entertainment," she said.

the big games

The final weekend of footy for the year will see a Melbourne team take on a Sydney team in each code.

The AFL grand final will be held between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Sydney Swans on Saturday at 2.30pm.

In the NRL the Bulldogs will take on the Melbourne Storm at 5pm on Sunday.

Originally published as Weekend to satisfy all footy fans