Carlton fans prepare to fork out thousands for flights, hotels to watch Blues v Lions showdown
Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides is riding on a high after the team secured their first preliminary final in 23 years, while fans prepare to fork out thousands to make the trek north.
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Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides is riding high after his former team secured a place in their first preliminary final in 23 years, as diehard fans face an expensive trip north for next week’s showdown in Brisbane.
The former star captain and fan favourite appeared in good spirits the morning after, discussing the Blues’ “incredible” two-point triumph over Melbourne at the MCG on Friday.
“I was in the changerooms after the game and it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” he said.
“Melbourne were definitely a premiership threat, so it shows spirit to me.
“Obviously they’re building something special.”
“It’s going to be a massive test this weekend, but they can do it.”
Carlton’s bruised semi-final heroes will be given eight days to recover with the AFL set to lock in their preliminary final for next Saturday at the Gabba.
That match against Brisbane Lions will be played at twilight and is expected to finish by about 7pm to allow the Blues to fly home that night.
It comes as fans faced a rude shock as they rushed to book flights to the River City for the highly-anticipated clash, with return tickets costing at least $1000.
Jetstar flights to Brisbane on Friday night or Saturday morning were around $400 – but those prices dropped by more than 50 per cent on Saturday evening around game time.
Flights returning to Melbourne on Sunday – some of which had already sold out – would cost in excess of $600.
Return flights from Melbourne on budget carrier Rex, departing Friday and returning Sunday, hit an eye-watering $1000 while Virgin Australia had similar flights for over $1500.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed hundreds of fans had quickly booked flights across the carrier and Jetstar in anticipation of next week.
“Qantas has already added one extra flight to help more fans get to the clash. Both Qantas and Jetstar will continue to monitor demand for flights closely over the weekend and will schedule additional services if needed,” the spokesperson said.
“As is always the case, the lowest fares on each airline sell the quickest.”
Others were preparing to make the 18-hour road trip if they managed to secure tickets, including “die hard Bagger” Louisa Frisby.
Ms Frisby and her partner said they plan to take work off on Friday to make the journey.
“Distance isn’t an issue,” Ms Frisby told the Herald Sun.
A train from Melbourne to Brisbane, which takes around 33 hours, would set back fans a more reasonable $272 one-way.
Meanwhile, hotels within 5km of Brisbane CBD have quickly been snapped up by eager fans.
The cheapest hotels with vacancy next weekend start from $1024 for a two-night stay while the more costly options will see guests cough up almost $2100, according to Booking.com.
Few rooms were available within the Woolloongabba area, home of the Gabba stadium.
Competitor lastminute.com.au had options close to the ground, however, guests would again fork out anywhere between $1100 – $1800 for their stay.
For those on more of a budget, backpackers near the CBD could set them back as little as $220 for two nights in a shared room.
Accor Pacific CEO Sarah Derry said it was shaping up to be a “strong weekend” for tourism in Brisbane, with the current demand on its 18 hotels across the city outpacing last year.
“The major sporting event of Carlton V Brisbane Lions has triggered a surge in demand for hotel bookings across the city,” she said.
Diehard fans ‘sleepless night’ over Brisbane clash
Carlton supporters from across the country have descended upon the club’s spiritual home to get a glimpse of their heroes after Friday night’s heroic semi final win.
Thousands of Blues fans are expected to make the trip to Brisbane next week for the club’s first preliminary final appearance since 2000.
Carlton tragic Jack Distasio, who made the trip from Adelaide for Friday’s semi final, said the first thing he did after the win was book flights to Brisbane.
“I already have flights but getting tickets (for the game) will be the hard part now,” he said.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. It was like going to a funeral and then going to a wedding all in one.
“I went to the Grand Final in 2014 and that crowd was better than the Grand Final. I can’t believe how loud the Carlton supporters are”.
Likewise the Parker family was also out bright and early at Princes Park, making a stop at the ground before heading back home to Albury.
Tim Parker said while the family will not be heading to Brisbane, they will do “whatever (they) can” to get to the Grand Final should Carlton qualify.
”It’s a bit much to go to Brisbane because it’s a regional flight for us so you’re looking at a lot of money but if we make it to a Grand Final we’re going to do everything we can to get tickets,” he said.
Lifetime supporter Jacquie Idaszak said she “did look at flights” to Brisbane for her and her family but has instead opted to watch the game from home.
She said Friday’s win rivals Carlton’s historic preliminary final victory over Essendon in 1999 and its premiership win in 1995.
“This is the best. I remember the 95 premiership and prelim in 99 and this is just the best,” she said.
“It definitely feels like those times again”.
Fellow Carlton fanatics Kathryn Elliott and Paul De Matteo took no chances and pre-booked accommodation in Brisbane last week in the hope their side would get there, before jumping on “at midnight” Saturday morning to book flights.
“It wasn’t a question of will we go, it was a case of let’s get organised and go,” Kathryn said.
“The flights are crazy. They started spiking the prices earlier this week because they were guaranteed to get a Melbourne team travelling to Brisbane”.
Kathryn said seeing the Blues return to finals kept her going after a battle with breast cancer four years ago.
“One of the things that kept me hopeful was the thought that I’d watch my team play finals when I was healthy and it has happened this season,” she said.
Meanwhile several players filed in to the club on Saturday morning for recovery.
Blues Sam Docherty (shoulder) and Blake Acres (shoulder) – the two wingmen who last night linked up for the famous matchwinning goal – were both sore in the rooms post-match but are expected to take on the Lions next week.
Docherty told the Herald Sun he was feeling good despite dislocating his shoulder in the second quarter on Friday night.
“In my mind I will be (100 per cent for the preliminary final) but we’ll see how we go we have stuff to get through during the week but feeling good and promising so far,” he said.
Coach Michael Voss – the three-time premiership captain of the Lions – will also welcome back Harry McKay (concussion) and Jack Martin (suspension).
Minor premier Collingwood has earned the right to host the Friday night preliminary final, which will start at 7.50pm at the MCG.
They will play the winner of Saturday night’s Port Adelaide-Greater Western Sydney semi-final.
The Giants potentially face the taxing challenge of flying home to Sydney on Sunday and then out to Melbourne on Thursday for that preliminary final should they upset the Power.
But AFL and club sources have confirmed the Magpies will play their home preliminary final at the MCG on Friday night.
The exact start time of the Gabba match is the only logistic that remains unclear. The match is certain to be in the twilight timeslot and could begin at around 4.35pm.
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