Bundy Bear
Established Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2004
- Posts
- 4,105
This report is based on 2 events one in 2023 followed by 2024.
Both of our football codes generally have a final in late September and the other code first weekend in October and with this in mind and with the chance finals appearance then sometimes you need to believe that your football team can come good once in a generation but you need some early plans. I was going to tag another AFF member here, but hopefully they take notes.
Background.
When I was in primary school our school district was considered part of Australian football territory, and so although Queensland is most definitely a Rugby League state, our school played AFL I always kept an interest in Australian rules football.
During early 2000s with the merger between Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy Lions Brisbane effective got the best players from both clubs and with a decent coach Brisbane Lions appeared in 4 grand finals winning 3.
Fast forward to 2013 I ended up in Western Australia and Rugby League wasn’t even mentioned with the main game in town AFL and if you were north of the river generally you supported West Coast Eagles or if south of the river or lived closer to Fremantle then you supported the Fremantle Dockers.
In 2013 Fremantle Dockers made it to the grand final but were outplayed by Hawthorn who went on to win 3 premierships in a row 2013-2014-2015.
I was lucky enough to secure tickets to the 2014 and 2015 grand final thanks @serfty but I hoped one day the Brisbane Lions would have a chance to make it to the grand final but during this period Brisbane weren’t playing so well. At the end of 2016 Brisbane Lions found a new coach Chris fa_an who had been an assistant coach to Hawthorn and I hoped this might improve their chances.
In 2019 the Brisbane Lions secured an ex Fremantle player Lachie Neale and this player after watching him for the past few years thought this player would be good enough to help Brisbane get into the finals and maybe help win a grand final.
Lachie was that good, and he chose Brisbane, every so often a player comes along that has star quality and could help your team into a grand final. The Brownlow is awarded to the player who is best and fairest in the AFL Lachie won the Brownlow medal in 2020 and in 2023. Yes he was that good.
In 2020 now that Brisbane had Lachie Neale playing well and Brisbane in 2019 finally played in the finals. I purchased season tickets. I think I only missed one game, which was the first game back after the COVID restart. COVID where you couldn’t go to the park with more than 10 friends but you could go to the football with 10,000 others.
In 2023 Brisbane were playing well so when Virgin Australia released a DSC offer during July 2023 (Double Status Credits) I took the offer and booked a business class fare on the Friday morning for myself and the other half. One comment from an AFF member said if you are hoping to get to a grand final thanks @cove book your flights early. I think the DSC offer prompted me if we are going to make it I need to make sure I have some flights I can cancel.
A few weeks after making the bookings Virgin released some Saturday evening flights ex Melbourne, the last flight on a Saturday evening was usually 7:40pm but Virgin had loaded an 8:40, 9:40 and 10:40pm flights I used points on the 8:40pm in economy. If Brisbane didn’t make it I could easily cancel the business class booking and keep it as a credit or get a full refund. The hotel booking was completely cancellable up to 2 days before the event and I would only lose a few thousand points on the Saturday night flight.
Brisbane made the AFL Grand final so the flights I booked back in July and August I was able to use.
Friday 29-SEPT-2023 BNE-MEL VA314 SEAT 2D/2F 737-800 VH-VUX
Stopped by the lounge for some lattes and toast then boarded the plane. A passenger in row 1 asked what was available as a predeparture drink and the crew advised there was sparkling available so when they came to our row that’s what we also had.
Breakfast was some sort of egg with a scroll which was pretty good, glad the cheese and biscuits weren’t on the plate like every other business class meal I have taken on Virgin Australia in the past few years.
The reason for the morning departure was to try and make it in time for the grand final parade which usually starts around 12:00pm but this one started early so only made it in time for some speeches at the end of the parade.
Accommodation
Soon after booking flights I then booked accomodation where I used some IHG points to book accommodation at an IHG property Holiday Inn Express in Southbank Melbourne for Friday night. The hotel was within walking distance of the MCG
On the Friday night went and saw the Play “Death of a Salesman” the friend suggested make sure you google and read a summary, its long and enthralling and don’t expect any laughs.
Saturday morning got up and went for a run, and then caught up with a friend for lunch. The main performance was Kiss which I am aware of but wasn’t my type of music. I didn’t want to get there too early and sit in the sun or any hot venue with 100,000 others.
We had good seats but were up high but at least in the shade, until after half time.
The game with Collingwood was close but lost to Collingwood 90-86, Collingwood had won many close games in 2023 and it showed again in final. Brisbane made some silly errors and part luck with the close calls went to Collingwood. Brisbane had there chances but during the game Collingwood was just always slight in front.
As soon as the final siren went we left the ground and headed back to the hotel to collect our bags and make our way to Skybus and then to the airport.
Saturday 30-SEPT-2023 MEL-BNE VA353 SEATS 7E/7F 737-800 VH-VUG
We made it back to the airport just after 7:00pm and probably could have made the 7:40pm flight but the 8:40pm flight was well timed, a bite to eat and a few beers later we were back on the plane to Brisbane with lots of disappointed Lions fans but some also some very happy Collingwood, One fan who was in 7D then switched from 7E had spent $1200.00 on flights in economy to make the game.
So for a $600 airfare in business and a few thousand points I got to see Brisbane play in a grand final. Lots more paid for flights just in economy each way.
Sometimes your team needs to lose a grand final and if players want it bad enough they will try again, keep practicing, and believe they can win.
Both of our football codes generally have a final in late September and the other code first weekend in October and with this in mind and with the chance finals appearance then sometimes you need to believe that your football team can come good once in a generation but you need some early plans. I was going to tag another AFF member here, but hopefully they take notes.
Background.
When I was in primary school our school district was considered part of Australian football territory, and so although Queensland is most definitely a Rugby League state, our school played AFL I always kept an interest in Australian rules football.
During early 2000s with the merger between Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy Lions Brisbane effective got the best players from both clubs and with a decent coach Brisbane Lions appeared in 4 grand finals winning 3.
Fast forward to 2013 I ended up in Western Australia and Rugby League wasn’t even mentioned with the main game in town AFL and if you were north of the river generally you supported West Coast Eagles or if south of the river or lived closer to Fremantle then you supported the Fremantle Dockers.
In 2013 Fremantle Dockers made it to the grand final but were outplayed by Hawthorn who went on to win 3 premierships in a row 2013-2014-2015.
I was lucky enough to secure tickets to the 2014 and 2015 grand final thanks @serfty but I hoped one day the Brisbane Lions would have a chance to make it to the grand final but during this period Brisbane weren’t playing so well. At the end of 2016 Brisbane Lions found a new coach Chris fa_an who had been an assistant coach to Hawthorn and I hoped this might improve their chances.
In 2019 the Brisbane Lions secured an ex Fremantle player Lachie Neale and this player after watching him for the past few years thought this player would be good enough to help Brisbane get into the finals and maybe help win a grand final.
Lachie was that good, and he chose Brisbane, every so often a player comes along that has star quality and could help your team into a grand final. The Brownlow is awarded to the player who is best and fairest in the AFL Lachie won the Brownlow medal in 2020 and in 2023. Yes he was that good.
In 2020 now that Brisbane had Lachie Neale playing well and Brisbane in 2019 finally played in the finals. I purchased season tickets. I think I only missed one game, which was the first game back after the COVID restart. COVID where you couldn’t go to the park with more than 10 friends but you could go to the football with 10,000 others.
In 2023 Brisbane were playing well so when Virgin Australia released a DSC offer during July 2023 (Double Status Credits) I took the offer and booked a business class fare on the Friday morning for myself and the other half. One comment from an AFF member said if you are hoping to get to a grand final thanks @cove book your flights early. I think the DSC offer prompted me if we are going to make it I need to make sure I have some flights I can cancel.
A few weeks after making the bookings Virgin released some Saturday evening flights ex Melbourne, the last flight on a Saturday evening was usually 7:40pm but Virgin had loaded an 8:40, 9:40 and 10:40pm flights I used points on the 8:40pm in economy. If Brisbane didn’t make it I could easily cancel the business class booking and keep it as a credit or get a full refund. The hotel booking was completely cancellable up to 2 days before the event and I would only lose a few thousand points on the Saturday night flight.
Brisbane made the AFL Grand final so the flights I booked back in July and August I was able to use.
Friday 29-SEPT-2023 BNE-MEL VA314 SEAT 2D/2F 737-800 VH-VUX
Stopped by the lounge for some lattes and toast then boarded the plane. A passenger in row 1 asked what was available as a predeparture drink and the crew advised there was sparkling available so when they came to our row that’s what we also had.
Breakfast was some sort of egg with a scroll which was pretty good, glad the cheese and biscuits weren’t on the plate like every other business class meal I have taken on Virgin Australia in the past few years.
The reason for the morning departure was to try and make it in time for the grand final parade which usually starts around 12:00pm but this one started early so only made it in time for some speeches at the end of the parade.
Accommodation
Soon after booking flights I then booked accomodation where I used some IHG points to book accommodation at an IHG property Holiday Inn Express in Southbank Melbourne for Friday night. The hotel was within walking distance of the MCG
On the Friday night went and saw the Play “Death of a Salesman” the friend suggested make sure you google and read a summary, its long and enthralling and don’t expect any laughs.
Saturday morning got up and went for a run, and then caught up with a friend for lunch. The main performance was Kiss which I am aware of but wasn’t my type of music. I didn’t want to get there too early and sit in the sun or any hot venue with 100,000 others.
We had good seats but were up high but at least in the shade, until after half time.
The game with Collingwood was close but lost to Collingwood 90-86, Collingwood had won many close games in 2023 and it showed again in final. Brisbane made some silly errors and part luck with the close calls went to Collingwood. Brisbane had there chances but during the game Collingwood was just always slight in front.
As soon as the final siren went we left the ground and headed back to the hotel to collect our bags and make our way to Skybus and then to the airport.
Saturday 30-SEPT-2023 MEL-BNE VA353 SEATS 7E/7F 737-800 VH-VUG
We made it back to the airport just after 7:00pm and probably could have made the 7:40pm flight but the 8:40pm flight was well timed, a bite to eat and a few beers later we were back on the plane to Brisbane with lots of disappointed Lions fans but some also some very happy Collingwood, One fan who was in 7D then switched from 7E had spent $1200.00 on flights in economy to make the game.
So for a $600 airfare in business and a few thousand points I got to see Brisbane play in a grand final. Lots more paid for flights just in economy each way.
Sometimes your team needs to lose a grand final and if players want it bad enough they will try again, keep practicing, and believe they can win.
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