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Angry fans slammed the AFL Grand Final parade as it heads to the Yarra River for the first time with huge crowds flocking to see Geelong and Sydney stars – but leaving VERY disappointed
- Large numbers of supporters gathered on the banks of the Yarra River to see stars
- Reaction to move away from parade in CBD was brutal at times
- Many fans complained that they couldn’t get up close and personal with their heroes
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Finals fever has started as football fans descended on Melbourne’s Yarra River for this year’s historic AFL finals parade, but some angry fans have made the switch to hold the event on the city streets.
The main feature of footy’s biggest week is usually moving through Melbourne’s city center with players on the backs of utes, but this year the Sydney Swans and Geelong Cats floated along the waterway affectionately known as the ‘reverse river’ for its muddy brown waters. .
The AFL canceled the event in 2020 and 2021 when the grand final was played interstate due to Covid-19 lockdowns in Melbourne.
This year’s parade featured players traveling across the Yarra from Swan Street Bridge to Princes Bridge from 10:30am, before returning to the MCG as the state was enjoying a public holiday.
The historic parade saw the big final stars drift down the Yarra River for the first time – and fans weren’t happy with the switch
Huge numbers of football supporters flocked to the riverbanks but were disappointed not to get to see the stars up close and personal
The players have been presented to the public off-ground, with the 2022 Premier League Cup on display.
However, the move from the streets of the CBD to the riverbanks has gone down like a lead balloon for many fans.
One of the biggest complaints from supporters was that it was difficult to see the players, while in the old days the stars were up close and personal.
Sydney Swans players wave from a barge on the Yarra – angering many supporters and radio host Tony Jones calling the new take on the parade a ‘disaster’
“No interaction with the players and coaches,” Alex Baskin tweeted.
“The most important part of the AFL Grand Final Parade is getting the fans up close and personal with the players. The idea of needing binoculars to find your hero from a riverbank isn’t ideal,” wrote Adam White.
A tweeter named Milly wrote: ‘Sooooo so bad. The boats turned, way ahead of someone in this photo who was waiting for hours in your ‘viewing areas’.
Geelong fan Sue Garlick said the parade organizers need a “kick in the butt”.
“It was the biggest blunder ever. There was no cheering from anyone. There were children who cried because they couldn’t see anything,” she said The age.
“Says a lot about the AFL that someone thought it would be a good idea,” Ashley Little tweeted.
Tony Jones of 3AW Radio was scathing, calling the new parade a ‘disaster’ and saying: ‘I would put this in the same category as Meat Loaf, AFLX and the Batmobile… in 10 years we will be looking at pictures of this and it as use punch.’
The grand finale has already drawn thousands to the city with 75 percent of Melbourne’s hotels, motels and serviced apartments fully booked for the weekend.
The parade drew a huge turnout, but one fan spoke for many when she called the Yarra experiment ‘the greatest fizzer ever’
“It’s really an extraordinary boom for us,” Victorian Sports Secretary Steve Dimopolous told reporters on Friday.
“It’s very important, but it’s also fundamentally about who we are as a community of Victorians.”
Mr Dimopolous said accusations of racism at the Hawthorn Football Club would not tarnish the excitement of the big last week.
“These are harrowing and disturbing allegations,” he said.
“But the AFL has made a strong commitment to an independent external investigation, and that is the right choice.
“It has given us clear skies and a real chance for Victorians to enjoy the best game in the country.”