The last Saturday of September — aka Christmas Day for footy fans – is set to be a ripper, with a forecast of 22 degrees and sunny, and two non-Victorian teams, the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans, battling it out for the premiership.

But both have strong Victorian connections, with Fitzroy and South Melbourne both very much in their DNA. Choose your bandwagon and find the perfect pub to celebrate with match snacks, beers and a rowdy room (or beer garden) full of fellow revellers.

Here are 10 of Melbourne’s best footy-mad pubs for food, drinks and atmosphere.

The Builders Arms, Fitzroy

Top restaurateur Andrew McConnell’s Builders Arms may be a seriously good food pub, but it’s serious about its footy, too. Aside from the already booked out set lunch, there’ll be five screens showing the big dance, a courtyard bacon and egg barbecue, Bloody Marys and $3 pots until the first goal of the game. And if you’re lucky you might snaffle one or two of these tasty sausage rolls at half-time, as well.

211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy buildersarmshotel.com.au

The Railway, Fitzroy North

This 70s-style favourite will be rollicking with footy on the big screens in the bar and beer garden, food specials including half a kilo of chicken wings for $15 and chicken parma sausage rolls at halftime, and DJs afterwards. Some walk-ins will be available, but to guarantee a seat, book for the ballroom upstairs, where $100 will get you a three-hour package of unlimited beer, wine and other bevvies, roaming food platters and a meat and seafood raffle after the match.

800 Nicholson St, Fitzroy North railwayhotelfitzroy.com.au

The Royal Derby, Fitzroy

The sprawling Royal Derby may be a little rough around the edges, but it’s got plenty of heart and soul and one of the ’hoods biggest beer gardens. As the official pub for Brisbane (and original Fitzroy) Lions fans, a great atmosphere and huge crowd is guaranteed, so don something red, yellow and blue and get among it for raffles, rousing footy and an almighty roar, no matter what the result. Some walk-ins will be available and there will be live music after the game.

446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy royalderbyhotel.com.au

The Duke of Wellington, CBD

Melbourne’s oldest pub is a mere 15-minute walk from the MCG, making it the perfect pitstop for lucky footy-goers before or after the match. With taps pouring from 10am and several levels of revelry from ground to rooftop, it’s set to be a long and lively celebration. It’ll also be showing the big match loud and proud on multiple big screens.

146 Flinders St, Melbourne, dukeofwellington.com.au

The Orrong Hotel, Armadale

This beautifully restored art deco hotel will ramp up the rowdiness as footy fans pack in to watch the big game on the big screens. Snack on retro dishes like mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes, hot wings and party pies (of course) washed down with craft beers or cocktails in this friendly establishment with a slightly more refined edge.

709 High Street, Armadale, orronghotel.com

The Victoria Hotel, Footscray

Sons and daughters of the west will gather at this handsome corner hotel for live and loud footy on the big screens and jugs of beer. Join them from midday for all the action – and for the Footy Feast Platter where $45 per head will get you Buffalo chicken ribs, wagyu cheeseburger sliders, three cheese croquettes, crispy calamari salad, toasted focaccia garlic bread, cheese and charcuterie. Or just order a classic parma.

43 Victoria Street, Footscray, victoriahotelfootscray.com

The Imperial Hotel, CBD

This slice of Spring Street is home to some of Melbourne’s coolest spots, including City Wine Shop, Siglo, The European and Spring Street Grocer. The Imperial will never be one of them. But don’t let that put you off – its character and characters are all part of its charm. Walk-ins are welcome in the downstairs bar, plus there’ll be a DJ from 7pm to help you celebrate or soothe your sorrows. The refurbished rooftop bar with views to the ’G is booked out, but sneak up there afterwards for sunset sips.

2-8 Bourke Street, Melbourne, bourkestreetimperial.com

The Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne

The best place to be for Sydney Swans fans who can’t get a ticket to the MCG is here, the pub closest to their spiritual homeland, South Melbourne oval and the official supporters’ pub. While it’s already officially booked out, they will be taking walk-ins for standing areas in the sports bar and bistro area on the ground floor, and also have seated outdoor areas to watch the match. Wear red and white and be early!

2 Raglan Street, South Melbourne risingsunhotel.au

The Rose, Fitzroy

This backstreet Fitzroy favourite prides itself on showing every footy match throughout the season (and blasting the winning team’s song after the final siren), but there’s only one game that matters this weekend. It’ll be packed, it’ll be rowdy, there’ll be plenty of HD screens, and there might even be spontaneous kick-to-kick on the street at half-time. Walk-ins welcome from midday, but it’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder, standing room only.

406 Napier Street, Fitzroy, therosefitzroy.com.au

The London Tavern, Richmond

Its proximity to the mighty ’G makes this grand old boozer the perfect spot for a Heeney or Daniher debrief before or after the game. But if you didn’t nab a ticket, it’s also a cracking spot to watch the action on the big screens. The beer garden will be the prime viewing spot this sunny Saturday. For a bucket-list footy experience, jostle for a spot among the diehards in the main bar while sipping Carlton Draught and yelling at players who’ll never hear you. Walk-ins only from 9am.

238 Lennox Street, Richmond, londontavernhotel.com