FOOTY

When coming to stay at the CWA B&B, it may be worth considering attending an AFL football match. Contrary to popular belief, a day at the footy need not be a costly experience. General admission tickets can be purchased for Telstra Dome and MCG matches for $18.50. Pack a lunch (or dinner for a night game), a packet of lollies and you’ve saved a stack.

Aussie Rules has been a Melbourne institution for more than one hundred and fifty years … and the game has never been better. Champions of yesteryear – Pratt, Coventry, Reynolds, Whitten, Farmer, Hart, Matthews and Ablett – are complemented magnificently by their modern-day counterparts – Judd, Hird, Richardson, Fevola, Johnson, Brown and … once again, Ablett. Speedsters burn up the turf, key forwards soar for the big grabs, midfielders transfer the ball faster than a bullet, while crowds still marvel at the desperation and courage of the game’s best defenders.

The Telstra Dome in Melbourne’s Docklands is the technological home of the modern game. This magnificent, user-friendly construction can seat more than 50,000 fans, each with an uninterrupted view of the game. The centrepiece of this arena is its multi-million dollar retractable roof, allowing matches to be played in perfect conditions – both for players and fans. A sell-out crowd with the roof closed is as close as it comes to the ultimate atmosphere in Australian sport.

But, in terms of connecting with the great game itself and feeling the intensity of every mark, goal, contest and tackle, nothing surpasses the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After its Commonwealth Games redevelopment, the MCG – Australia’s indisputable home of sport – can seat up to 100,000 fans. This modern-day coliseum is an outstanding sight to behold, both from the outside and within, and is the perfect location to view the modern-day gladiators at work. Any football match at the ‘G’ takes on another level of significance. Even with a small crowd, the atmosphere is fantastic. The sound reverberates off the four tiered grandstands, and the one hundred and fifty year history of the ground resonates from every corner.

Whether at the Dome, the ‘G’, or any other ground in the country, a footy match is a must for all Australians, especially Victorians. The passion, strength and courage of the players and the excitement and intensity of the crowds are key ingredients to all matches. There is fun to be had by all.

To get to the Telstra Dome from the CWA B&B, catch a number 8 tram down Toorak Road towards the city, from stop 37 to stop 30. Transfer to a ‘city loop’ train from South Yarra Station. Disembark at Southern Cross Station, which runs adjacent to the Dome. To get to the MCG from the Club, follow the above instructions, except after boarding the train at South Yarra, hop off at the next stop, which is Richmond Station. From there, it’s a 200metre walk to the ‘G’.

Be prepared for some queues, crowded transport and rowdy fans but never forget … it’s all part of your footy experience. Go the mighty Cats!

Ashley Braybon

CWA B&B night duty person