Huge street party expected if Pies win flag

A MASS street party around the MCG, shutting roads and bringing traffic to a standstill, is expected if Collingwood clinches its 16th premiership on Saturday.

Mjay, 4, gives the thumbs up. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A MASS street party around the MCG, shutting roads and bringing traffic to a standstill, is expected if Collingwood clinches its 16th premiership on Saturday.

Huge crowds spilling out from the Magpies-Eagles blockbuster could force police and VicRoads to shut Olympic Boulevard and possibly even parts of Punt Road.

Swan St, Richmond, will be closed from 4pm until 7am on Sunday, but there were calls yesterday to close more roads. A Collingwood victory would see thousands of fans from the MCG and from Olympic Park converge in a mass party.

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Jubilant Tigers fans blocked Swan St into the early hours after 2017’s drought-breaking premiership win, forcing police to close it.

Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly said authorities should be prepared for the same thing to happen in Olympic Boulevard if the Pies win.

“It’s going to be a repeat of last year … let’s not make the same mistake twice. People didn’t listen to the fans last year and we had to play catch-up on the night,” he said.

Thousands of Collingwood fans gathered at Olympic Park oval on Tuesday for an open training session.

Fans turn out in their thousands to watch Collingwood train ahead of the Grand Final. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Lenny, 2, is joined by Benson. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mjay, 4, gives the thumbs up. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

And Pies coach Nathan Buckley was awarded the AFL Coaches Association coach of the year award.

Former Pies and Tigers star Brian Taylor said shutting Olympic Boulevard for several hours on Grand Final day made perfect sense.

“It’s only a couple of good drop punts from the MCG, so why not allow more people — the ones who are not lucky enough to get a ticket — to enjoy the occasion as well?

“They should turn it into a fan zone any time Collingwood or Richmond is lucky enough to play in a Grand Final.’’

Nathan Buckley was awarded the AFL Coaches Association coach of the year award. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty

Up to 100,000 people are expected at the MCG. But up to 12,000 Pies fans are also expected at a live site at Collingwood’s Holden Centre, and thousands more footy fans will pack nearby Richmond pubs.

Cr Jolly said: “We need to shut down whatever needs to be shut down, and put the safety of Collingwood fans first.”

The Swan St closure will stretch from Punt Rd to Church St, but could be extended all along Olympic Boulevard. Brunton Avenue will be closed to all eastbound traffic from 6am on Saturday until 4am on Sunday and to all city-bound traffic from 6am until 11pm on Saturday.

Swan St will also become a clearway from 6am on Saturday and the Route 70 tram will be diverted along Bridge Rd.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said last week temporary closures of Olympic Boulevard would be considered if needed. And Victoria Police’s Hannah McDonald said: “Temporary closures will be considered if required.’’

Police will be highly visible in and around the MCG, at public transport hubs, and across the CBD, Collingwood and Richmond. And Yarra mayor Daniel Nguyen urged fans to catch public transport.

Collingwood will charge fans $20 entry to its live site, from noon to 7pm, and expects it to sell out. More than 7000 tickets had already been sold.

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