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AFL grand final public transport guide: Get there early for WA footy’s biggest day

Peter LawThe West Australian
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Be like this footy - get there early.
Camera IconBe like this footy - get there early. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

Aim to arrive for midday, soak up the atmosphere around Optus Stadium in the afternoon, be in your seat before the pre-match show at 4.15pm — and then enjoy the greatest show on Earth.

That’s the advice for the 61,000-plus lucky ticket holders from the team that worked behind the scenes for the past month to ensure Perth’s first AFL grand final is football’s best ever premiership decider.

While bounce down is not until 5.15pm, the action kicks off at Stadium Park from 12pm, including tunes and drinks at an outdoor marquee and pop up bar, as well as Triple M’s radio broadcast — featuring appearances from footy greats — on the Southern Oval.

The Fan Zone will keep the kids entertained, with games, inflatable skills, giveaways and a kicking challenge. There’s also food trucks and $10 stadium food and drink vouchers for NAB customers.

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The mercury is forecast to reach 27C before cooling to 21C for the start of the match. By the time Melbourne Demons skipper Max Gawn or the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli lift the cup it will be 18C.

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No rain is expected, but forecasters recommended packing a jacket as the south-easterly will be blowing at about 15km per hour.

The vast majority of fans will head to the Burswood peninsular by public transport, with Thornlie line trains stopping at Stadium Station from 8.57am and stadium shuttles departing Perth from 1.41pm.

There’s also football special services on the Fremantle and Joondalup lines, plus extra trains on the Mandurah line. Event buses will operate for three hours before bounce down and two hours after the final siren.

Combined with the opening day of the Perth Royal Show, it’s going to be one of the busiest days ever for the public transport network.

Optus Stadium CEO Mike McKenna said those attending should arrive early, have their tickets downloaded on their phone ready to present at the gates and to scan the Safe WA app QR codes throughout the stadium.

WA Police deputy commissioner Gary Dreibergs said almost 200 police officers would patrol in and outside the venue, with the policing bill to be shared between taxpayers and the AFL.

There will also be roving and mobile units to attend any area across Perth that the force believes requires a “surge” of extra cops.

“But really this is a celebration, we want the community to come out and enjoy it and have a great time. The police are here to contribute to that enjoyment and we don't want to have to use our enforcement requirements,” Mr Dreibergs said.

AFL operations manager Travis Auld said after two COVID impacted seasons the Perth grand final would help “pay the bills” but wouldn’t reveal how much the league would collect in ticket sales — understood to be tens of millions of dollars.

“It’s a significant amount of money. I don’t think we can talk about the specific financials just yet, and to be perfectly honest we won’t have the exact number for a little while, but it’s a significant amount of money,” he said.

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