There’s less than an hour to go before the first siren and somebody should probably check on Hannah Kennelly’s heart rate.
The Age trainee and Lions fan shared her thoughts, hopes and fears with us before this afternoon’s clash....
I’m running on three cups of coffee and five hours of sleep this morning – a restlessness I’m attributing to either pre-game jitters or some questionable deep-fried calamari I had for dinner.
I’m feeling fairly positive this year, unlike last year’s clash against the Magpies, but I don’t want to jinx anything.
Lions star Hugh McCluggage.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Many fans have understandably lamented the lack (sorry, non-existent) number of Victorian teams in this afternoon’s decider.
But as Age footy writer Jake Niall mentioned, this grand final will be the most watched game in Australian rules history. Not too bad for two interstate teams!
As a Brisbane-born journo, it’s incredibly exciting to be in Melbourne for the grand final – the energy in the city is difficult to articulate and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
My entire family has flown down from Brisbane and are currently waiting for me at a pub on Bourke Street. We’ll be nearly three kilometres away from the ’G, but I don’t think we’ll care.
The opportunity to be in Melbourne and watch your team play and maybe even win the flag is pretty special.