How to get yourself to the AFL grand final - without a plane ticket

If you’re flying by the seat of your pants to get to the AFL Grand Final this weekend, experts have a few quick tips you might want to try - match day ticket not included.

There’s only three sleeps until the AFL Grand Final, but Sydney Swans fans who score a last-minute invite can still make it to Melbourne in time for the first bounce, experts say.

The first grand final played in Melbourne with no Victorian sides since 2006 has led to a scramble from Swans and Lions supporters to book their journeys south, with Brisbane fans claiming to have been slugged up to $3000 for their travel despite extra flights by Virgin and Qantas.

But Swan supporters who are flying by the seat of their pants can still see the match for a bargain price- provided they have accommodation and an all-important game day ticket.

Travel analysis by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday has revealed savvy early risers should make for the airport early today, with the cheapest airborne option a $155 Jetstar flight from Sydney to Melbourne leaving at 6am.

The most expensive flight left this week is a Virgin service flying out of Sydney at 5pm on Friday, at $935 for a single economy seat.

Sydney Swans supporters wanting to fly down from Sydney might be able to get to Melbourne for a few hundred dollars. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Those leaving it extra late can board an 11am Virgin flight touching down just two hours before the game starts on Saturday for $554.

But flights home on Sunday after the match are no cheaper, with the average price of a seat on a Sydney-bound flight $595.

Comparatively, the most expensive flight next week costs $808 with Virgin at 2pm on Wednesday or 8:30pm on Thursday.

Monash University Business School Associate Professor Glen Croy said “time-focused demand” was behind the difference in pricing as thousands of AFL fans travel to Victoria, but “ambitious” travellers could profit highly or fail miserably.

“Now that we are getting closer and closer to the event, there are only going to be a smaller number of flights available and usually on any flights the last seats will be at a higher price,” Prof Croy said.

“When we get closer to take off, we will get a price reduction, as the airlines are looking to sell those last seats … waitlist and standby flights do exist in those spaces for those that are happy to deal with the neutral consequences of not getting a flight.”

But the chance to see their team play in the final could be worth fans forking out, Prof Croy said.

“For some fans this is a once in a decade or once every five years opportunity. So what they might see is the higher economic cost of paying might be worth the value of the experience they gain with it,” he said.

For those priced out of flying, coach trips from Sydney to Melbourne are mostly sold out but roadtrippers can still get one-way seats on tonight’s 12-hour overnight run by Greyhound for $249.

Swans supporters could consider other modes of public transport, like trains or buses, down to Victoria if they don’t want to drive. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Extra train carriages are on RailLink services running fans down to Melbourne this week due to “increased demand”, according to Transport for NSW, with tomorrow night’s overnighter the only service still with seats from $78.16.

Motorists driving the 865km who fill up a 45-litre fuel tank with E10 fuel for the average state price of $1.66 a litre should be able to reach Melbourne for around $150, not counting road trip snacks.

Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said the all-interstate final was a “fantastic” opportunity for transport, travel and tourism providers to cash in on ferrying, feeding and housing AFL fans.

“Not only are we seeing even more Sydney fans head to Melbourne this year, but even more Sydneysiders will take advantage of the live sites here at home including at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Henson Park,” she said.

Originally published as How to get yourself to the AFL grand final - without a plane ticket