Footy fans camp out for ‘golden ticket’

They’ll be on the street for two nights but that’s a small price to pay for these die-hard Richmond fans already lining up to grab a ticket to the Tiger’s clash against Geelong.

Richmond fans queuing at Ticketek ahead of next weeks finals match. From left, Kirsty Upjohn, Frank Borg and Greg Moschoyiannis in the queue. Picture: Sarah Matray

Die-hard Richmond fans are lining up outside of the Exhibition Street Ticketek to buy the ‘Golden ticket’ to the Richmond v Geelong preliminary final.

Brothers Greg and Jim Moschoyiannis have lined up the last three years to secure tickets and say they have their whole family on a roster to camp outside the box office until 9am Monday.

“My four kids and six grandchildren are all coming down,” he said.

“We don’t mind where we sit at the game, but we are hoping for the best tickets.”

Kirsty Upjohn says she is “Richmond born and bred,” and that camping for two nights is a small price to pay for the hottest ticket in town.

“We (those in the queue) don’t all know each other but we see one

another every year in this queue,” she said.

“I don’t care where we sit, as long as I’m at the game.

“We do want good tickets though, we don’t want nosebleed seats.

“We are going to win, no doubt in my mind.”

Waiting in their camping chairs, from left, Frank Borg, Kirsty Upjohn and Greg Moschoyiannis. Picture: Sarah Matray

There is a projector that will arrive soon to play old matches and last week’s final and the famed 2017 Grand Final for the fans.

Family and friends will come baring food and heat along with food, bingo and cards.

Ms Upjohn says that more will join the line and it will be chaos by Monday morning.

It comes after some bad news for Geelong fans, as four-goal hero Tom Hawkins was sent out of the preliminary final blockbuster after his strike on West Coast defender Will Schofield.

But Richmond’s VFL team’s dominant display today could be a good omen for the AFL side.

And their coach, Craig McCrae, believes two Tigers could enter the AFL selection frame ahead of Friday’s preliminary final.

That win means Richmond will play either Essendon or Williamstown in next weekend’s VFL grand final.