AFL stars donate Gabba grand final tickets to local Aussie rules clubs
The AFL grand final at the Gabba is the gift that just keeps on giving for Queensland because, in an incredible gesture, hundreds of tickets to the October 24 blockbuster are being given away by the game’s biggest stars. COULD YOU BE ELIGIBLE TO SCORE ONE?
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The AFL grand final is the gift that just keeps on giving for Queensland.
Hundreds of prized tickets to the historic premiership decider at the Gabba on October 24 are to be given away to grassroots footy clubs across the state.
In a heartwarming gesture, AFL players have donated their allocated grand final tickets to the clubs to give to deserving members or raffle off as fundraisers.
Two tickets will be given to each of the state’s 159 community Aussie rules clubs in what Geelong Cats star and AFL Players Association president Patrick Dangerfield said was a thank you to Queenslanders for their support during the league’s temporary relocation north from COVID-ravaged Victoria.
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Dangerfield said 2020 had been a tough year for many players forced to live away from home but they had been buoyed by local fans ‘who have brought their energy and voices to the matches each week to cheer us all on’.
“We know the grand final tickets will go to deserving supporters who have done so much to grow our game in Queensland,” he said.
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said: “We are hoping with this fantastic gesture from the collective AFL playing group, that local Queensland clubs can show their appreciation to longstanding volunteers or even use the tickets to raise some funds in what has been a challenging year.”
Nick Mallen, president of the Burleigh Bombers junior Aussie rules club, said the ticket giveaway was a ‘huge bonus’ for local footy fans, with the Gabba grand final set to be a sellout.
“It’s incredibly generous of the players to do this for local clubs because hosting the grand final in Queensland will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.
Mr Mallen said the Bombers were preoccupied with local grand finals this week, with four of its junior teams qualifying, and had not yet decided where the AFL grand final tickets would go.
“We will probably try to reward those who have done the hard work throughout the club,” he said.