The World’s Greatest Blog

This year’s AFL Grand Final will be held at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday 27th September at 12:30 AEST between Geelong and Hawthorn. Geelong will attempt to repeat their 2007 AFL Grand Final Victory over Port Adelaide. We’ve added a video of that game on the left.

This year’s footage will be broadcast by Setanta Sports 2 in the UK at 4:30am on Saturday morning. Good luck to all those Aussies away from home who will be setting their alarms. We had the same issue when trying to watch the England rugby finals last year from Adelaide. Here’s what Setanta Sports 2 have to say about their upcoming coverage:

04:30

Live: AFL Grand Final - Geelong vs. Hawthorn

Live AFL Grand Final from the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Geelong look to retain their title for 2008 against a Hawthorn side hungry for success and silverware

Live Venues in the UK

England

Walkabout in Islington is showing the game live from 5am - tickets are now on sale at £10, but advance booking only - no door sales. Just click here for more.

The Walkabout in Shaftesbury are selling tickets for £15 but they include a VB and a bacon roll. Click here to read more.

Walkabout Putney are showing the AFL Grand Final live - tickets are £15 and include 2 beers / soft drinks and some form of breakfast. They advise people to buy their tickets in advance from the pub. Click here for directions.

Walkabout Shepherd’s Bush are also featuring the game live from 5am for £15 including 2 drinks and breakfast. Directions and more info here.

Belushi’s, Doors Open at 4:30am, 48 - 50 Camden High Street, Camden, NW1 OLT. Entry £10

The Camden Tup, doors open at 5am, entry is “a Lady Godiva (rhyming slang for £5 for all your rhyming slang imbociles)” - according to London Swans, who are hosting the event. They went on to say “The Camden Tup will be serving up tasty cooked breakfasts, and with more TV screens than you can poke a stick at, the Camden Tup is the place to be watch the two form teams of the AFL vie for the 2008 flag!”.

The World’s Greatest Blog spoke to David Bell, President of the London Swans Australian Rules Football Club and he predicted Hawthorn to win by 15 points. He said “Geelong are a good team, but I think that Hawthorn can upset them”. Click here for contact details of the Swans - they have a dedicated social secretary and will welcome fellow drinkers or players of any ability.

The Clapham Grand party starts at 4.30am and their £10 ticket includes a beer and a pie. Go to ClaphamGrand.com for more info.

Durell Arms, 704 Fulham Rd, Fulham SW6, Doors Open at 4:00am, Tickets £10 available from the pub or the Putney Magpies. Two beers/soft drinks and a traditional Aussie Meat Pie are included in your ticket. Asked who he thought was going to win, Putney Magipies Social Secretary Justin Hunter replied “Hawthorn, obviously”. He also predicted Cyril Rioli to kick the most goals.

GJ’s, 62 High St, Collier’s Wood, London, SW19 2BY. Tickets £20 which entitles the bearer to the following: entry to GJ’s, 4 pints or jug (Ladies: 4 sweet drinks (ie: UDL etc), 1 Villies pie, entry into 2 competitions - Norm Smith and Winning Margin. Find out more at Wimbledon Hawks here or ring the venue: 020 8540 3131.

Uluru Bar, 398 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 8AD. 0161 881 6789. Showing a delayed game from 9am on Saturday 27 September:

Come and see it delayed and uninterrupted down at the Uluru Bar, Chorlton and still get to sleep to a normal hour. Get inspired by this great Aussie game, and have a chat to the Manchester Mozzies, Manchester’s only Australian Rules Football club.

Scotland

Walkabout Edinburgh are showing the AFL coverage from 4.45am and it’s absolutely free! The kitchen and bar will both be open and it promises to be a warm welcome for homesick Aussies. Click here for more details.

Live from 4.30am at The Globe “Its in that wee street next to the Bank Hotel, between the Royal Mile and the Cowgate.” Free entry from 4.30, coverage from 5.30 and drinks served from 6am. 2 giant screens, four smaller ones and drinks promotions on Australian beers. Beers from £1.25. Plus, the man who spoke to The World’s Greatest Blog on the phone was really friendly. Click here for directions or ring 0131 557 4670 for more info.

More information

We rang Sportscafe in London and they will not be open for the AFL Grand Final, and as they only show live games, the replays will not feature at their venue.

We’re currently trying to track down other pubs and other venues who are willing to show the game live. Let us know if your venue is going the whole hog and opening for the full Geelong vs Hawthorn game.

How else to watch

The most likely pub replays will be on Wednesday 1st October at 22:00 on Setanta Sports 2, but by then all of the info will be available on the internet and most probably Youtube. Alternatively, you can watch the game live at home by getting Setanta Sports 2 on your own TV. Just click on the link, or the banner.

Tips, Statistics and Bets

For those of you having a flutter on your favourite players, check out the tips and statistics at Systemlays.co.uk. According to them, Geelong are ahead in the head-to-head stakes with 76 wins against Hawthorn, who have 66. They have only drawn once.