MCG was to host the AFL grand final on Saturday but now stands empty

By the rhythm of the city, this should have been grand final day in Melbourne.

Richmond president Peggy O’Neal walks past the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which should have been the pulsating focus of the AFL grand final this weekend. Picture: Aaron Francis

It is the sound of silence Richmond president Peggy O’Neal has found most disconcerting through a dispiriting Victorian winter.

Melbourne may be the city with four seasons in a day, but when it comes to sport, there is a natural rhythm that follows the calendar year.

The tennis in January. Motor racing in March. Sherrins kicked from then to September each week.

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Red balls are thumped into pitches and banished to the boundary from October onwards as the stars of the turf gallop into the history books at Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Flemington.

From her Richmond home, O’Neal has always been able to hear the siren sounding from the MCG and Punt Road. But, sadly, that has not happened since June and she is missing it.

“When I hear the siren from the MCG, I can tell that someone is playing and there is an energy and a buzz on Swan Street and Bridge Road and through Richmond before matches,” she told The Weekend Australian.

Earlier this week, the MCG turned 167. On its social media account, a photograph taken by Jono Marthick-Hone was posted displaying the jewel of the city in all its stunning glory.

The lights of the ground glisten from the reflection of the Yarra River on a beautiful spring evening. Above it is a message from the custodians of the ground, reading:

“Brighter times are ahead. Stay safe, look after each other and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the ‘G when the time is right.”

The MCG was to host the 2020 AFL grand final on Saturday.

It would have been cold on Friday at the grand final parade — it was snowing in Ballarat —

Instead it has lay dormant since June. Not a fan has set foot inside the cavernous coliseum since the astonishing finale to the women’s T20 World Cup final in March. Hopefully it will be back by Boxing Day.

For now, its silence and emptiness is another example of what has been lost this year.

O’Neal walks through the grounds surrounding the MCG every second day in her hour of exercise and it is a rare occasion when she spots another person.

A couple of days shy of the anniversary of the Tigers’ premiership triumph in 2019, the Richmond president is among those mourning its inactivity.

“It will be a difficult day for all the pubs around Richmond. On grand final day, fans are lining up to go,” she said. “It is a great source of revenue and fun for the community and it is not going to be the case this year.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is aware fans will miss the institutions of the week, from the Brownlow Medal to the North Melbourne Breakfast, to the barbies in backyards and beers on balconies.

“It is such an important part of the city’s calendar of events and the way Melbourne ticks and not only brings the city to life but also brings people together right across the state to watch the match,” he said. “We know how much Victorian football fans and club members are missing the game and their support, considering the circumstances this year, has been extraordinary.

“It would be great to be sitting in a packed MCG, but COVID has meant that football has had to adapt and find another way to keep going, as has everyone across the country.

“While we are really excited by getting the season completed and preparing for a historic grand final at the Gabba, I think everyone is looking forward to the day when we have 100,000 people streaming into the MCG again.”

At the start of the month, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire’s heart skipped a beat when the AFL premiership cup was wheeled on to a flight bound for Queensland.

McGuire’s first grand final memories are of the famous decider in 1970. Aged five, he was booting the ball around the backyard of his Broadmeadows home, imagining he was playing while listening to the call as Carlton reeled in his beloved Magpies.

The Collingwood supremo’s first grand final was a famous one. McGuire and a close mate had standing room tickets on the wing as the Magpies drew with North Melbourne in the 1977 decider.

“All those things, they are seminal moments in your life, and now things have changed forever,” he said. “What we have to do as custodians of the game is that when we return, we make sure it is bigger and better than ever before.”

Champion footballers Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt have contrasting memories from their playing experiences. Few get to experience their versions of grand final day. Brown played in Brisbane’s premierships of 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Riewoldt captained the Saints in the 2009 and 2010 grand final campaigns, including the devastating draw against Collingwood.

But it was not until he was part of Fox Footy’s coverage outside the MCG last year that he truly understood the public devotion.

He was amazed to see waves of fans walking along the Yarra, or down from Jolimont Station through the grounds, celebrating the day with family and friends.

“It was the first time I have been able to experience the excitement and the atmosphere that footy punters feel at the MCG on grand final day,” Riewoldt said.

“It will be difficult for everyone who loves the day this year.”

Having entered the Australian Football Hall of Fame this year, Brown was looking forward to a key perk — being able to take his dad Brian to lunch with him at the ground.

Instead the game will be played next month at the Gabba, the ground he dominated as Brisbane captain, while he is providing analysis from a studio in South Melbourne.

“How ironic is that? It is at my home ground and I can’t even get there,” he said.

Good morning Melbourne! 😍

A stunning photo by Jono Marthick-Hone on Instagram pic.twitter.com/T0vL6fhTHv

— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) September 17, 2020