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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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