Footy fans snap up finals tickets despite gloomy weather forecast

Melbourne is set to be battered by wild weather later this week but that hasn’t deterred footy fans, with only 1100 public tickets left for Friday’s Richmond-Geelong blockbuster. This is what the weather has in store for AFL diehards.

Richmond cheersquad members Melanie Castleman, Paul Clarke and Tonya Baker are ready for this weekend’s rain. Picture: Ian Currie

Wet weather is set to sweep AFL preliminary finals weekend in Melbourne with forecasters predicting rain for both cutthroat matches on Friday and Saturday.

But footy fans are expected to turn up in droves, regardless of what the weather gods serve up with only 1100 public tickets left for Friday’s Richmond-Geelong blockbuster.

Up to 10mm of rain and potential thunderstorms have been forecast for the Tigers-Cats blockbuster and wet weather is also likely for Collingwood’s clash with GWS on Saturday.

Yet, with a Grand Final berth on offer for the winner of both matches, fans snapped up thousands of tickets yesterday, despite weather warnings.

The ponchos are set to be out in force this weekend. File image: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

More than 93,400 fans are expected to pack the MCG on Friday, with 68,874 sold by 5pm yesterday.

There were last night about 16,900 public tickets remaining for the Collingwood-GWS clash with more than 53,140 sold yesterday and a crowd of 85,000 forecast.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Stewart said a cool change expected on Friday was likely to impact Tigers and Cats fans.

“There are likely to be showers and a chance of some thunderstorms,’’ he said.

“It’s possible it could come during the football.’’

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Richmond and Geelong were allocated 25,000 tickets each for members, ahead of ­allocations for MCC and AFL members and the public.

Richmond fans began camping outside Ticketek’s Exhibition St outlet on ­Saturday in a bid to secure a ticket on Monday morning.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Frank Borg said.

He joined the queue at 6.30pm Saturday and managed little sleep.

But like others in the growing line, he was counting down until tickets went on sale.

Richmond fans queuing for finals tickets at Ticketek over the weekend. Picture: Sarah Matray

“I think about 4am we will be getting pretty excited,” said Mr Borg.

The fans in the snaking line endured two cold evenings and some “misbehaviour” from Melburnians heading home after nights out.

“There were a few bottles thrown and we had a couple crying on the corner — we think they were breaking up,” Mr Borg said.

In previous years, people had tried to give money ­thinking they were homeless.

“We just laughed and showed them our Tigers ­colours,” Mr Borg said.

Ms Upjohn is used to camping out for tickets, too.

Geelong fans are set to make another return to the MCG. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

“Every year we come back and you see the same faces. It’s not boring because we have each other, and a few board games as well. It’s like one big family,” she said.

Battery chargers for their phones, plus a projector so they could relive past glories — including the 2017 Grand Final — help pass the time.

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Marcus Briggs will be among 200 members of the Geelong cheer squad hoping the Tigers are tamed at the MCG on Friday night.

He said he would keep the week as normal as possible — “until Thursday, then we’ll make a banner. We’ll try and keep it under control (but) then Friday it’s all on.”

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