Muted grand final celebrations as restrictions prevent large BBQs, parties
Geelong’s Grand Final celebrations will look different this year amid coronavirus restrictions. Here’s what you can and can’t do.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Geelong’s Grand Final week celebrations will be muted on the weekend with the Premier revealing live sites would not operate in Victoria, while home parties will be limited to one other visiting family.
Eased restrictions in place from Monday mean pubs will be able to have more patrons on Grand Final Day, with venues allowed to have 70 people outside and 40 people inside.
But Geelong residents who had hoped Sunday’s announcement would allow for larger home gatherings were left scrambling to book at table at the city’s venues to watch the Cats take on Richmond at the GABBA.
Waurn Ponds Hotel manger Margaret Spence said the venue was booked out for Grand Final night after a flurry of calls following the changes to restrictions on Sunday morning.
“The phones went hot after the announcement,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence who also oversees the Norlane hotel said there were still places available at that venue for Grand Final night.
She said both venues would operate at well below capacity on Grand Final Day because restrictions only allowed patrons to be seated in two rooms, and called for restrictions to be eased further.
After the Cats’ 2007 premiership win wild scenes erupted in the Geelong CBD forcing police to closed Moorabool and Ryrie streets as the area became home to an unofficial street party. But celebrations this year will be very different.
Superintendent Craig Gillard said police would be out enforcing the Chief Health Officer orders on Saturday and would not hesitate to fine those caught flouting the rules.
“The expectation is that people need to understand the CHO restrictions and adhere to them and comply with them,” Superintendent Gillard said.
“If they don’t, we will be knocking on their door.
“I’d just encourage everyone that we have to stay the course on this and while it is fantastic that the Geelong is in the Grand Final - there are still restrictions.”
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Sunday the state government would not establish any live sites for fans to watch the Cats clash with Richmond, deeming any large events too big a risk.
“I know people are very passionate about football and passionate about their team and Richmond and Geelong supporters will be very up and about this week,” he said.
“But it is not an ordinary Grand Final and it has not been an ordinary season.
“Those two teams arguably, as Victorian clubs, have been through more difficulty than other teams across the AFL and it’s a testament they’ve been able to make it to the grand final.”
Mr Andrews said he was “appealing to people” to not put the progress made at risk by flouting rules and holding large gatherings.
The Geelong Advertiser reported on Saturday that Kardinia Park Stadium Trust and the City of Greater Geelong had ruled out holding mass gatherings due to restrictions.
WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO ON GRAND FINAL DAY:
- You can have two adults and their dependants from one family to your house. The household bubble rule has been scrapped so the adults be anyone from a single household.
- You can gather in a public space with a group of 10
- You can go to a pub with a maximum of 10 guests per booking
- You cannot have a grand final party (of more than two adults and their dependants) at your house
- There will be no ‘live site’ events
MORE NEWS:
THE RESTRICTIONS EASING FOR GEELONG
ABLETT READY TO DELIVER ON PROMISE ONE LAST TIME
LITTLE RIVER ‘FIX’ TO REUNITE TOWN
Originally published as Muted grand final celebrations as restrictions prevent large BBQs, parties