The last Saturday of September — aka Christmas Day for footy fans – is set to be a ripper, with a forecast of 22 degrees and sunny, and two non-Victorian teams, the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans, battling it out for the premiership. But both have strong Victorian connections, with Fitzroy and South Melbourne both very much in their DNA. Choose your bandwagon and find the perfect pub to celebrate with match snacks, beers and a rowdy room (or beer garden) full of fellow revellers.
Here are 10 of Melbourne’s best footy-mad pubs for food, drinks and atmosphere. The Builders Arms, Fitzroy Top restaurateur Andrew McConnell’s Builders Arms may be a seriously good food pub, but it’s serious about its footy, too. Aside from the already booked out set lunch, there’ll be five screens showing the big dance, a courtyard bacon and egg barbecue, Bloody Marys and $3 pots until the first goal of the game.
And if you’re lucky you might snaffle one or two of these tasty sausage rolls at half-time, as well. 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy buildersarmshotel.com.
au The Railway, Fitzroy North This 70s-style favourite will be rollicking with footy on the big screens in the bar and beer garden, food specials including half a kilo of chicken wings for $15 and chicken parma sausage rolls at halftime, and DJs afterwards. Some walk-ins will be available, but to guarantee a seat, book for the ballroom upstairs, where $100 will get you a three-hour package of unlimited beer, wine and other bevvies.