Muso GFlip, AFL players, politicians at the Gabba for Brisbane Test
ARIA-winning muso G Flip, Charles and Camilla among the stars as Gabba shines for Brisbane Test.
ARIA-winning muso G Flip was among the A-listers cheering on the Aussies for day two of the Brisbane Test, leaving the MCG to soak up the Gabba atmosphere.
The singer, drummer, and producer is a passionate AFL and cricket fan, with their dad signing them up for a coveted Melbourne Cricket Club membership when they were a kid.
But with plans for their first white Christmas in the US with Selling Sunset star and realtor wife Chrishell Stause, it was their only chance for a taste of cricket this summer.
“Normally I’m at the MCG, but I won’t be here Boxing Day, I’ll be having my first Christmas in the States, so I was like, well, I’m home, I better fly to Brissy and at least go to a day and I thought may as well go day two, because of what just happened in Perth,” they said.
G Flip put their deep passion for the Collingwood Magpies aside to rub shoulders with Brisbane Lions Premiership captain Lachie Neale.
The pair, who both have multiple tattoos, joked about getting matching ink to mark their new friendship.
Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire, Brisbane Lion Hugh McCluggage, Olympians Matt Denny and Lachlan Kennedy, former Australian Diamond captain Liz Ellis and Queensland Senators Murray Watt, James McGrath and Susan McDonald were also among the high profile fans at the game.
Also in the crowd was a touch of royalty with King Charles and Camilla lookalikes spotted among the passionate Barmy Army who enjoyed a brief stint of English batting before they began targeting the Aussie batsmen.
The Pineapple Hotel, the official watering hole of the Barmy Army, was heaving before the first ball of the day with standing room only at the bars and in the carpark.
When asked how many kegs he was turning over, Pineapple Hotel general manager Tony Barbara smiled and said “we’re happy”, with even thirstier crowds expected over the weekend.
“We’ve been busy since Melbourne Cup, solid,” he said.
“It is good to have had a Test match before Christmas.”
Solo British traveller Nigel Harden felt right at home at the pub, while Aussie Natalie Delos got engaged to a member of the Barmy during the last Ashes Test at the Gabba and the pair are now married with a child.
She wasn’t shy about bringing the green and gold to the sea of British red, white and blue.
“I’m very proud, I love being the only Aussie among a sea of Poms because we’re going to smash them,” she said.
“We could do with a few more Aussies.”
Across the road from the Gabba, Easy Times Brewing Company were drunk half dry on Thursday and were packed again the hours before the game started.
Assistant venue manager Jack Martindale said trade was 100 per cent up on Brisbane Lions game days.
“It’s been absolutely crazy, absolute choca-block getting the patrons in, having a great time,” he said.
“Our keg room holds about 100 kegs and we’re smashing it out.
“We’ve probably gone through about 50 (on Thursday) and we’re stocking up with out with even more today.
“All the venues around here are doing fantastic.”
A corp of more than 100 Gabba stormtroopers marched into Easy Times on Friday after 200 on Thursday and a record 503 excepted in full costume on Saturday – the group’s best ever attendance since the last Ashes series.
Troopers leader Tony Holznagel said it was the last time for the foreseeable future that the group would appear at the Gabba after helping raise over $100,000 for Epilepsy Queensland over the past eight years.
“Star Wars had nine episodes. This is the eighth (Test). So at some stage we’re always going to have to have that ninth episode,” he said.
“It’s a mammoth effort for one guy to manage and I’ve done it as a passion project and love it and I will get back to it.
“But right this moment, like my kids need me.”
He wouldn’t rule out a return to christen the new Victoria Park Stadium in 2032.
“It’s not going to be called the Gabba, so it’s going to be interesting to see if we’re the Gabba troopers or what we’re going to be called,” he said.
“It’d just be great to make it happen again down the track because it’s great for people’s mental health and it’s great for Brisbane’s historic cricket culture.”
Stormtroopers weren’t the only ones who stormed into the Gabba with a pitch invader quickly chased by security after moment of madness before the main break.
On day one of the Test, the 37,000-strong crowd drank through 1100 kegs at the Gabba, which was among the highest for a sold out event day, with taps flowing fast again on Friday.
Scott McClintock and his fellow 12-man “Fun Club” squad were among the fans drinking the golden nectar.
Originally published as Muso GFlip, AFL players, politicians at the Gabba for Brisbane Test
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