Fair to say that just about the entire city of Melbourne is fixing to split itself in two tomorrow night when the stupidly-anticipated AFL Preliminary Final clash between Richmond and Collingwood finally arrives. But one bloke – possibly the keenest punter of them all – isn’t taking any chances getting into the ground and is already lining up at the doors of the MCG.
[jwplayer IshizoBk]
The Richmond fan, by the name of Albert Sun, has been there since late yesterday, camped outside the gates of the MCC Members stand in the hopes of being the first person through the door and, therefore, the first person to snag his seat in the exclusive stand.
The MCC, for those who weren’t signed up at birth and therefore remain puzzled as to its machinations, has a large portion of the MCG stands set aside for members. Of those, not all are allocated for reserved pre-purchase seating. Rather, they let members snare them on a walk-up, first-come/first-served basis. Therefore, Albert sits and waits.
Live shot from the MCG of one very keen spectator 48 hours early to the #AFLTigersPies game.
Rumour is it could be a very nervous @MichaelManley_1 pic.twitter.com/XsDgJblkJR
— Dylan Atkinson (@Dyl35) September 19, 2018
For forty-eight…
Seriously this guy must be bloody freezing! It feels like 4 degrees walking past this morning. #aflfinals #mcc #AFLTigersPies #gopies pic.twitter.com/Cy8JOSxzYd
— LONGY (@TheOnlyLongy) September 19, 2018
…godforsaken…
Rumour debunked by @nathantemp7!
Albert is not being paid to hold top spot for someone else, he’s simply a diehard Tigers fan desperate for prime position 😂https://t.co/B6hDGoV3Mw pic.twitter.com/Y6lgJtQqEW
— 3AW Breakfast (@RossAndRussel) September 19, 2018
…hours.
Such is the fascination with old mate’s setup – and look at it, it is luxe and bougie and just about as MCC as it gets – that the Breakfast TV programs swung by his spot (they had to come to him, naturally) earlier this morning.
This Richmond fan is already camping outside the MCG ahead of Friday’s #AFL Preliminary final! #sun7 pic.twitter.com/SEyIOAQeRX
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) September 19, 2018
The story goes that Albert’s wife has been swinging by occasionally to hold his spot in line (there’s no one behind him yet), allowing him to duck home and grab a shower. MCG staff also opened up the bathrooms to enable prevent old mate from having to take a shite behind a tree in Yarra Park.
As for how he’s passing the time between now and 5:00pm tomorrow when MCC gates open, he reckons he’s “watching replays of Richmond wins.”
There you have it, folks. Australia’s most up-scale nuffy. An admirable title.
