Street party as Swan St to be closed on Grand Final day

Tickets aren’t even on sale yet but Melbourne is being swept up with Grand Final fever. Fans are camping out overnight in the CBD to secure first crack at tickets for the big game, while Grand Final day plans for Swan St have been revealed.

Tigers supporters celebrating the Richmond flag on Swan Street in 2017. Will we see a repeat on this next week? Picture: AAP Image, James Ross.

Swan St in Richmond will be closed to traffic on AFL Grand Final day to cope with the expected influx of Tiger fans and to avoid a repeat of 2017 when celebrating supporters swarmed the road causing chaos.

The street will be closed on Saturday from about 4.30pm until at least 8pm.

Trams will be diverted down Bridge Rd.

Yarra Council officers have been working with Victoria Police and Yarra Trams on the shutdown plans for weeks as the Tigers’ march through the finals gathered momentum.

The closure is expected to be between Punt Rd and Church St. Further details will be released during the week.

Crowds packed Swan St after the AFL 2017 Grand Final.

Nearby Stewart St, which runs next to the rail line between the Corner Hotel and the Punt Rd-Brunton Ave junction, will also be shut between 4am on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.

In 2017 when Richmond broke its 37-year premiership drought, thousands of Tiger fans stormed the bar and restaurant strip, turning it into a street party that lasted till the early hours on Sunday.

A live site is also to be set up at Punt Rd Oval for fans who can’t get a ticket to the big game which starts at 2.30pm at the MCG.

While plenty will flock to Swan St for the big game, a devoted group have set up camp outside a Ticketek outlet in Melbourne’s CBD in preparation for the release of tickets at 9am on Sunday.

Richmond supporters Peter and Sue Smith lining up for AFL Grand Final tickets in Exhibition Street. Picture: Josie Hayden

Peter Walkey lining up for his AFL Grand Final tickets. Picture: Josie Hayden

Richmond fan Peter Smith is ready to camp out tonight with his wife Sue to secure tickets to what they hope will be a face-off between Richmond and fellow Victorian powerhouse Collingwood.

“I’ve been to over 40 Grand Finals in my lifetime, but my favourite was 2017, of course,” he said.

“We have kids and grandkids that barrack for both Collingwood and Richmond — I always line up.”

Richmond superfan Cheryl Critchley says she is hoping that the Tigers get to wear the black jumper this year as a nod to traditional fans.

“In 2017 there was a so-called clash and we had to wear the yellow jumper,” she said.

“We haven’t actually played a Grand Final in the traditional jumper in 37 years.

“1982 would have been the last time Richmond got to wear it, it would be the cream on the cake.”

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Waiting in the queue are a mix of AFL members and club members eagerly waiting to purchase their ticket at 9am. Among the group, many expressed confusion over the online “hit-and-miss” paid ballot the AFL proposed this year.

Only a small handful of the fans lining up support clubs in the mix for a Grand Final berth, but their love for the game will see them spend a second night camped outside of Ticketek.

Hawthorn fan Peter Walkley says that he’s been to every Grand Final since 1966 and this year would be no different.

“I’d like to see GWS win, they’re the underdogs,” he said.

“A group of friends will come down from Gippsland, we stay out, go to dinner and the footy and have a good time.

“You’ve got to line up if you want to make sure of it.”

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@IanRoyall