Lions v Richmond final enjoyed from neighbouring rooftops

Tickets to the Brisbane Lions’ first finals match in a decade sold out fast, but these diehard fans have prime position without needing to pay a cent.

THE game diehard Lions fans have been waiting a decade for may be sold out, but the best seats are on the house.

As loyal supporters pack the Gabba for the biggest AFL game Queensland has seen in 10 years, residents of neighbouring apartments will hit the roof.

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Lisa Oliver wasn’t able to score a ticket to watch the Brisbane Lions as they take on Richmond in the finals tonight.

But the Woolloongabba teacher will be watching the game live regardless from her top story apartment balcony with a cracking view over the field.

“The last game here sold out and we watched it from the balcony – I’ve got very lucky friends,” she said.

Dozens of tenants at The Duke in Kangaroo Point will also be heading up to the rooftop of their apartment block for the game.

While Teresa Fantasia has only just moved in with her partner Jacob, she said they’d made the most of the rooftop, especially during big footy games.

“Why buy a ticket when you can see the whole thing? You can feel the atmosphere as if you are in the oval,” she said.

The sold-out match has been a long time coming for Lions fans. The club last made it to the finals in 2009.

Relishing the view of the Gabba from neighbouring The Duke apartments are (from left) Hugh Keating, Laura Applyard, Sarah Wisley, Teresa Fantasia and Jacob Huggett. Picture: Annette Dew

Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann said he wanted everyone to get behind the local legends - whether they managed to snag a ticket or not.

“The tickets sold incredibly fast. By the time the tickets were released to the general public, after Lions and Tigers members had their early access, they were sold out after an hour,” he said.

“It’s going to be a night to remember.”

Superfan Kate Bruschweiler has been a Lions club member and season ticket holder since the club first formed.

She said tonight’s game has the potential to “reinvent” AFL in Brisbane.

“We had those years with that hard slog of not getting out of the bottom, and the last 10 years it’s been pretty empty (at the Lions games) but you want to support them through the bad times as well as the good,” she said.

“AFL was so much more popular here in the early 2000s when they won the premierships, and if people are enjoying the sport and if everyone’s out there watching it could reinvent AFL in Brisbane.”

Originally published as Lions v Richmond final enjoyed from neighbouring rooftops