Greg Ellerine and his group of childhood friends started planning for a Swans grand final in May.
Flights to Melbourne were booked five weeks into the Swans’ season, and their Airbnb in South Yarra – big enough to house their 10-member party – was secured in July.
Greg Ellerine, Eden Glover, Aaron Ryba and Josh Kessel are looking forward to a Roosters-Swans double header in Melbourne this weekend.Credit: Wolter Peeters
The group, who grew up together in the eastern suburbs, plan a trip to Melbourne each year to watch the Swans play. This year, they’re saving the best for last.
“We all said, ‘It’s a grand final year, get ready’,” Ellerine, 27, recalled. “When tickets came out on Monday, we were good to go.”
Before Ellerine attends his first AFL grand final on Saturday afternoon, he’ll be at AAMI Park to watch his other boyhood team – the Sydney Roosters – take on the Melbourne Storm for a spot in the NRL grand final.
“I’m only one of the few boys on this trip who is actually a Roosters fan, so I’m buzzing for the game,” Ellerine said.
“I actually had to convince a lot of the lads to come to this game … it was just me and one mate going, but [now] we got the rest.”
The Swans were dismantled by Geelong in their last grand final outing two years ago.Credit: Scott Barbour
Ellerine will be among the thousands of Sydneysiders in Melbourne this weekend, largely to see the Swans take on the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.
The AFL is expecting more than 400,000 supporters to attend grand final events in Melbourne, despite no Victorian team contesting the game. This will include 100,000 fans packing into the MCG, which officially sold out on Tuesday afternoon.
One of Ellerine’s first AFL memories was the elation of Sydney’s 58-54 victory against the West Coast Eagles in the 2005 grand final.
Recent memories have been less joyful; he recalls tuning into the Swans “dreadful” 2022 grand final from overseas, and prefers not to speak about Sydney’s fortunes in 2014 and 2016.
Ellerine forecasts a positive outing for the Swans on Saturday. He predicts an 86-81 victory, and has outside pick Justin McInerney winning the Norm Smith Medal.
“We’ve had a few bumpy rides the last few grand finals … it’s been a good while since we got our last win and the team’s looking good.
“All the young lads who have had their potential are at their peak now… we’re pumped up.”
Ellerine isn’t as optimistic for the Roosters, who will be without many of their key players when they face minor premiers the Storm on Friday.
He hopes any potential disappointment from a Roosters loss will be far outweighed by the ecstasy of a Swans triumph the next day.
“Everyone’s going to be buzzing on Saturday,” Ellerine said.
“We haven’t won a premiership since 2012 … we’re ready.”
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