AFL: Local clubs in Queensland will get more than 300 free AFL Grand Final tickets
Local clubs in Queensland will get more than 300 free AFL Grand Final tickets as a goodwill gesture from the players.
AFL
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More than 300 free tickets to the AFL Grand Final at the Gabba will be gifted to local football clubs from non-competing players as a “thank you” to the Sunshine State for helping get the 2020 season away.
Each of the 159 local community football clubs across Queensland will get two tickets from the non-competing player ticket allocation to use as they see fit.
The Gabba will have a reduced capacity crowd of 30,000 for the Grand Final, which will be played out of Victoria for the first time.
Already through to a home preliminary final, the Brisbane Lions are just one win away from playing in the decider.
Tickets will be as rare as hen’s teeth, and AFLPA president and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield, who could be playing in the Grand Final, said gifting tickets to locals was their way of saying thanks.
“To show our thanks, the players, through the AFL Players’ Association, are delighted to donate our Grand Final ticketing allocation to the 159 AFL community clubs in the state,” he said.
“It’s been tough for a lot of players to be away from home for so much of the year, but it’s been made easier thanks to the local fans who have brought their energy and voices to the matches each week to cheer us all on.
“The 2020 Grand Final being played in Queensland offers a terrific opportunity for supporters to experience the thrill of attending the Grand Final, and we know the tickets will go to deserving supporters who have done so much to grow our game in Queensland.”
A host of the players not competing in the finals, who spent the majority of the season based in Queensland hubs, have left and returned to their home states.
Plenty have also stayed after three flights full of their families were allowed into Queensland last month to join the players.
In a strong show of solidarity, the @aflplayers are donating their Grand Final tickets to @AFLQ community clubs to thank them and the state for their support throughout 2020. 🎟
— aflplayers (@AFLPlayers) October 6, 2020
âœ: https://t.co/cOQmgt1W4F pic.twitter.com/gr8eybQQIR
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan thanked the Queensland football community.
“Footy in Queensland is going from strength to strength and it is testament to the passion of the players, coaches and volunteers who love their local clubs and the sense of belonging they provide to their local communities,” McLachlan said.
“We are hoping with this fantastic gesture from the collective AFL playing group that local Queensland clubs can show appreciation to their longstanding volunteers or even use the tickets to raise some funds in what has been a challenging year.
“Thank you to the players for this acknowledgment and donation, I know it is something that will be cherished by all the local clubs.”
Originally published as AFL: Local clubs in Queensland will get more than 300 free AFL Grand Final tickets
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