Footy fever as mad Brisbane fans take over the nation

Footy fans will get to celebrate the return of Brisbane’s NRL and AFL Grand Final teams at some special events on Monday. Here’s what you need to know.

Footy fans will get to celebrate the return of Brisbane’s NRL and AFL Grand Final teams as they head home on Monday, just in time for the King’s Birthday public holiday.

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Thousands are expected to swarm to the Riverstage to welcome back the Broncos as part of a special fan day.

Limited spots will be available at the venue so people are being advised to arrive early. Patrons will not be admitted once the venue capacity (9500) is reached.

The Broncos are expected to touch down in Brisbane about 10.30am on Monday.

BRISBANE LIONS

Following a mega fan day event for the Lions in Fitzroy, Melbourne, earlier in the day, the Grand Final team is expected to arrive back on home turf about 4.30pm on Sunday.

A local fan day will be held at Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield, from 10am.

The weekend Brisbane fans took over the nation

It’s a maroon invasion. Tens of thousands of footy fans set upon the southern states to cheer on the Brisbane Lions and the Broncos in a historic weekend that marked the first time both our AFL and NRL teams made their grand finals in the same season.

It’s been a while between drinks for both, and the fans were thirsty. And it was beg, borrow or steal your way there. Some flew without tickets, pinning their hopes on luck outside the stadium.

Others forked out thousands for a seat.

Joseph Chan (Chanman) and his Brisbane mates in Sydney before Sunday’s NRL Grand Final. Picture: Adam Head

Cross-code love was at an all-time high as Broncos tragics packed out pubs across Sydney to throw their support behind the Lions in the lead-up to their own big moment on Sunday when they’ll be determined to bring it home for Brisbane.

Queenslanders are nothing if not passionate, turning out with such force that it broke a post-pandemic record for the amount of travellers passing through Brisbane Airport on Friday ahead of the games.

About 62,188 people went through the domestic terminal, with flights to Melbourne at an average of 98 per cent capacity.

The massive Lions’ contingent at the MCG. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But it wasn’t just by air. Lifelong diehard fans found their way to Sydney and Melbourne for a taste of glory however they could.

Broncos supporter Josh Smith and four mates made the almost 10-hour pilgrimage down the M1 on Friday with the car packed with scarfs, jerseys and a Reece Walsh face mask.

Since arriving at midday on Saturday, Mr Smith said pumped-up Broncos fans had taken over Sydney.

“There are Broncos fans everywhere in Sydney, we deadset haven’t seen anyone in a Panthers jersey,” Mr Smith said.

“Locals here are telling us that they’re going for the Broncos too, which is massive.

“It’s just been amazing to see.”

Brisbane Lions fans Hannah, 12, Lachie, 15, Grace, 11 and Olivia, 13, at the MCG. Picture by Jason Edwards

Mr Smith, decked out in a retro Brisbane jersey, said Broncos playing in white was a good omen, and it was a Broncos supporter avalanche across Sydney.

Broncos superfan Joseph Chan hit the sports bar with a group of 20 others from Brisbane to watch the Lions take on Collingwood in Melbourne from Surry Hills. Mr Chan and his mates promised to make Accor Stadium sound like the Broncos were playing in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium.

“We have come down with a job to do and we are going to kick their arse and make some noise,” Mr Chan said.

“I flew down on Friday and so many are coming down today (Saturday) plus so many that are driving. It’s incredible.

“There are so many Broncos fans here. We will make it loud.”

Ethan, Brendan and Kelle Hope at the MCG. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

From full maroon, blue and gold face paint to signs professing the pride they felt for their heroes, Lions fans roared into the MCG. They thundered at every touch of the ball. Maroon spilt throughout the sea of black and white. It wasn’t the result they wanted but the noise never stopped.

Brisbane’s A List were there front and centre. B105 host Abby Coleman was flanked by her family for the “dream come true” moment. “We promise we will cheer loud for every supporter who can’t be at the MCG,” she wrote on social media.

Channel 7’s Kendall Gilding and Jillian Whiting were also there.

Lions fan Madigan Paine, 28, of Toowoomba, at the Brisbane Lions AFL Grand Final live viewing site, South Bank. Picture: Liam Kidston

Lions fans without a ticket to the Big Dance flocked to the South Bank live site to watch the match

Farris Gilmour, 8, watched the game with his mum, Emma, and said his favourite player was Zac Bailey.

“He kicks a lot of goals and is really good in the forward pocket and midfield.”

Ahead of the Broncos’ big moment on Sunday, coach Kevin Walters said the message to his players was all about the fans – just make them “really proud”.

“Everyone involved in the game, the clubs, fans, sponsors, coaching staff, you want to win grand finals, so we are here,” Walters said.