‘We are going to be louder than last year – that’s for sure,’ Carlton cheer squad president Jovan Kurilic says

While they might be outnumbered in the stands on Saturday night, loyal Blues fans are determined to drown out the Brisbane crowd in a bid to give their team an edge in the cut-throat final.

Carlton’s most passionate supporters are set to paint Brisbane blue.

While they might be outnumbered in the stands at the Gabba on Saturday night, loyal Carlton fans are determined to drown out the Queensland crowd in a bid to give their underdog squad an unlikely edge in a cut throat final.

In the thick of more than 5000 Carlton die diehards sat together behind the goals will be cheer squad president Jovan Kurilic who has bled Blue for 41 years.

His trip to Brisbane will be a family affair, with wife Belinda, daughter Oriana, son Stefan, and father Risto all joining the cause, after being gifted flights by Virgin Australia.

Carlton fan Jovan Kurilic and his father Risto are heading to Brisbane for the elimination final. Picture: Mark Stewart

He promised they would bring the noise – just like Carlton fans did at last year’s preliminary final at the same venue.

“We are going to be louder than last year – that’s for sure,’’ he said.

“It was ridiculously loud last year but we will have a whole lot of supporters there and we will have a crack.’’

Mr Kurilic will be joined in the stands by about 40 members of the Carlton cheer squad he has resided over for the past 15 years.

It is the same crew that gathered at Ikon Park on Thursday evening to make the Blues banner the team will run through on Saturday, before tucking it inside their trusty cheer squad van and spiriting it 1770km from Carlton to Brisbane.

Sisters Selda Bordaran, Lara Sabic and Imren Kuyucv are ready to cheer on their team. Picture: Ian Currie

The baggers van is gearing up for a big journey to the Gabba. Picture: Mark Stewart

Estimating he had watched 368 Carlton games live and only missed eight interstate matches in that time, Mr Kurilic said Saturday night’s match loomed large.

And Blues supporters were cherishing underdog status and spoiling for an upset.

“Last year we were just stoked to make finals but then to make a prelim, that was huge,’’ he said.

“This year is a little bit difference, we kind of limped into the finals.

“Now with some clientele back, it would be hard for Brisbane to come up with a strategic plan to take us on because we don’t even know what we are going to look like.

“So we hope for the best.’’

Jovan Kurilic says ‘we will have a whole lot of supporters there and we will have a crack’. Picture: Mark Stewart

Blues fans will hold a pre-match function and march to the Gabba en masse.

It comes as airlines put on extra flights from Melbourne to Brisbane to meet demand from the band of Blues heading north.

Virgin alone has scheduled an additional 700 seats on four more services than usual to send Carlton fans to Brisbane, with the airline selling more than 15,000 seats on more than 85 services between Melbourne and Brisbane.

Virgin Australia executive Libby Minogue said it “will continue to review its network each week and schedule more flights where possible to ensure we can get as many footy fans to games across the country.

“Last year Virgin Australia scheduled an additional 14,000 seats for Grand Final week alone.’’

With Michael Voss’ men taking on the team he led to three straight flags from 2001-03, a unique band of Blues brothers and sisters will send their support from the stands in style.

Townsville Carlton fan Tony Holznagel dreamt up the Blues Brothers and Sisters concept while he was locked down with Covid and said they would “be all over the shop” at the Gabba.

“It’s a passion project … we will be louder than the Lions fans I can guarantee,’’ he said.

“And with Sam Docherty coming back it will just take it to the next level.

“We want to make our boys feel at home.’’

Among those dressed as Blues sisters will be Coburg’s Imren Kuyucu, her daughter Lara Sabic and cousin Selda Bordonaro, who will travel from Melbourne to cheer their team.

“It’s going to be pretty exciting and because it’s an elimination, even better,’’ she said.

“It’s a bit of fun and a good atmosphere.

“People will look at us because we get quite loud.’’