Tens of thousands of AFL fans flock to MCG as Grand Finals between Sydney, Brisbane kicks off

Tens of thousands of diehard footy fans have flooded the MCG to see the Sydney Swans take on the Brisbane Lions in this year’s AFL Grand Final.

Thousands of spectators were soaking up the atmosphere in Australia’s footy heartland as they made their way from Melbourne’s CBD to the big stage.

The Swans last played in a grand final against Geelong in 2022 but lost to the Cats while the Lions missed out on the premiership last year to Collingwood.

It’s been 21 years since the Brisbane Lions have won a flag with the Swans last winning in 2012, the club has won a total of five grand finals and lost 12.

The last time the two sides met in a grand final was in 1899 when they were still playing in the VFL as Melbourne clubs, according to Zero Hanger.

Brisbane and Sydney were formally Fitzroy and South Melbourne, two of the oldest VFL clubs that sill exist and how represent interstate cities.

They joined the AFL in 1990, after South Melbourne initially formed in 1873 and Fitzroy in 1883.

There’s only been three times in AFL history when two interstate teams have played in a grand final which took place in over three consecutive years between 2004 and 2006.

The Brisbane Lions or Sydney Swans played in each of those games.

As part of the pregame entertainment Katy Perry brought an energetic performance to the MCG opening her set with Roar, which caused controversy during the week with people suggesting the song would give the Lions an edge in the grand final