Things to Do in Melbourne This AFL Finals Season

Melbourne is absolutely abuzz in September when finals footy starts up. This year it’s bigger than ever, thanks to the shake up of the new wildcard rounds.

Punters get to enjoy five weeks of finals footy instead of four. And with ten teams in the mix instead of eight, more people have skin in the game. But even if your team is out or you’re not the most religious footy follower, it’s a great time to get out in this incredible city and soak up the vibe. 

The team at Woodards have rounded up the best ways to soak up finals fever across our local suburbs – from roaring beer gardens to family-friendly festivals and a few footy-free escapes for anyone who'd rather sit it out.

Footy finals in summary

The AFL has overhauled the finals for the first time in 25 years. The brand-new Wildcard Round expands the finalists from eight teams to ten – the sides finishing 7th to 10th now play off for the last two spots in the top eight. It all builds, as always, to the big one.

• When: finals run across September, with the Grand Final on Saturday 26 September 2026
• Where: the Grand Final is at the MCG, first bounce 2.30pm
• Good to know: the Friday before (25 September) is a public holiday in Victoria, so it's a long weekend

For the exact week-by-week fixture as it firms up, the AFL's official site is the place to check – finals dates depend on who makes it and where they finish.

For the watch party: pubs with real atmosphere

You can't get a ticket to everything, and honestly, some of the best finals memories happen in a packed local with the commentary cranked up. These spots across the Woodards suburbs know how to do a big game.

Carnegie, Bentleigh and Elsternwick

Down in the bayside/inner-south pocket, The Grosvenor in St Kilda East is the destination of the south – games live and loud across multiple screens with clear sightlines from every corner, plus a sports bar built for the occasion.

• Where: The Grosvenor, St Kilda East
• Good for: big screens, premium pub food, bayside crowd

Coburg and Pascoe Vale

Up north-west near Coburg and Pascoe Vale, Brunswick delivers two cracking options. The Railway Hotel reckons it has one of the best screens in Melbourne, with extra screens in the beer garden for the big occasions, while the beautifully renovated Sporting Club Hotel keeps its fire roaring and its taps flowing all afternoon.

• Where: Railway Hotel & Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick
• Good for: massive screens, pumping beer gardens, a proper local roar

Carlton North, Northcote and Thornbury

In the inner north, take your pick. Northcote Social Club throws open a free Grand Final event with a heated beer-garden deck; the "Termi" – The Terminus in Fitzroy North – runs its famous footy party with bottomless packages; and Carlton North's The Great Northern puts the footy on across a leafy beer garden with 20-odd taps.

• Where: Northcote, Fitzroy North & Carlton North
• Good for: live-music-venue energy, beer gardens, footy packs

Camberwell

Out east near Camberwell, the Glenferrie Hotel in Hawthorn has the space, the screens and the menu – head in early for a big breakfast and settle in for the afternoon.

• Where: 324 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
• Good for: early starts, space to spread out, all-day footy

For the family: free festivals and the parade

Finals aren't just for the pub crowd. Grand Final week throws up some of the best free, family-friendly events on Melbourne's calendar – and with the Friday public holiday, there's a whole long weekend to enjoy them.

The free Macca's Footy Festival takes over Yarra Park right next to the MCG, packed with entertainment for all ages.

• When: Wednesday 23 – Saturday 26 September 2026
• Where: Yarra Park, beside the MCG
• Cost: free entry
• Good for: player appearances, an AFL Play zone for the kids, dodgems, giveaways, live music and food trucks

The Grand Final Parade is a Melbourne institution and a genuinely joyful morning out, with both teams, the legends and the Premiership Cup travelling through the sporting precinct.

• When: Friday 25 September 2026, from around 9am
• Where: Melbourne Park Oval, through Birrarung Marr, past the MCG to Yarra Park
• Cost: free
• Good for: families – Melbourne Park Oval has pre-parade entertainment and a big screen

For the footy-free: escapes for the other side of the household

Not everyone lives and breathes the game, and Grand Final weekend is quietly one of the best times to enjoy Melbourne while half the city is glued to a screen. Galleries are calmer, laneways are quieter, and the long weekend is perfect for a day out.

• With the whole city off on the Friday, it's an ideal day to explore the Mornington Peninsula, the Yarra Valley or a favourite local high street
• The covered halls of Queen Victoria Market and Prahran Market make for an easy, footy-free graze
• Melbourne's galleries and museums – the NGV, ACMI, Heide out in Bulleen – are all calmer than usual on Grand Final Day itself

Enjoy finals footy no matter how you play it

That's the beauty of footy finals in Melbourne. You can be shoulder to shoulder in a heaving beer garden, cheering the parade with the kids on your shoulders, or enjoying an unusually peaceful gallery while the rest of the city holds its breath. There's no wrong way to do it – just find your spot and enjoy the ride.

And if all this local exploring has you thinking about where you'd love to call home – near the pubs, parks and stations that make finals season so easy to enjoy – the team at Woodards knows these neighbourhoods inside out.

Reach out any time for a friendly, no-pressure chat about your local market.