Has anyone ever done standing room at the GF before?

[saint66au]

...if so..any advice?

I think the gates open at 9.30ish...do we need to be there earlier than that ? Is it OK for a group to mind spaces while 1-2 of us head out for a while? What time does it get really crowded?

Any help / advice much appreciated

[hellorocky]

same here also, will it be likely that it's an all St Kilda area?

I have 2 kids, one is a young female and only just over 5'

I do recall from last week that the standing room Ponsford end was stepped up so we won't all be on the same level

Also, will there be an attendant there checking tickets? Surely there would be a limit to each particular area

[Milton66]

Did it in 97. First in,I recall. We were on ground level, so everytime the ball went up, we lost it and had to watch the tv.

[Enrico_Misso]

I did it for 15 years in the 70s and 80s.
It is a real long day.
But the atmosphere is great.

And these days there are those TVs.

[saint66au]

I did it for 15 years in the 70s and 80s.
It is a real long day.
But the atmosphere is great.

And these days there are those TVs.

Yep I did it in 80 and 82...when you got a standing room ticket with your series ticket. Crowded, pushy and very very...blokey lol

Im sure OH&S rules have changed since those days..as have the design of standing room areas. The crowd will have changed then too....back then it was pretty feral cos people deliberately stood there as it was cheap and close to the bar..next Sat it will be full of Social Club members who didnt get a choice.

[jonesy]

Anyone in standing room has an obligation to be LOUD! Your voice really bellows out from under the stands, and if you're sitting in front,and get that echoing roar behind you,it sets off a chain reaction. We need to be as loud as possible

If I get in I'll be happy to forfeit a seat and stand.....unless it's a ripper!

[Animal Enclosure]

I did it for 15 years in the 70s and 80s.
It is a real long day.
But the atmosphere is great.

And these days there are those TVs.

Yep I did it in 80 and 82...when you got a standing room ticket with your series ticket. Crowded, pushy and very very...blokey lol

Im sure OH&S rules have changed since those days..as have the design of standing room areas. The crowd will have changed then too....back then it was pretty feral cos people deliberately stood there as it was cheap and close to the bar..next Sat it will be full of Social Club members who didnt get a choice.

I wouldn't bet on it mate... standing areas are still very blokey & feral.

For the OP... there some better standing room in the Olympic stand than the old urine soaked areas in the Southern. It's still a very tough spot for kids and ladies to watch from.

[Chester's Saints]

Did it in '05 (Sydney vs West Coast).

We were directly behind the goals in the Southern stand (Punt rd end).

View was ok ... but i'd recommend getting in early and get front posi. Can be a bit crowded towards the start of the game, then people just move around.

We were with Eagles supporters (the misses being a Perth girl)

[karnaby]

same here also, will it be likely that it's an all St Kilda area?

I have 2 kids, one is a young female and only just over 5'

I do recall from last week that the standing room Ponsford end was stepped up so we won't all be on the same level

Also, will there be an attendant there checking tickets? Surely there would be a limit to each particular area

I think you want to get there pretty early, and deliberately seek out some other Sainters

Tell your kids beforehand that they will definately hear quite a bit of language - it was never too much of a problem for our 2 as they often heard me swearing at the tele anyway :^) In reality the thing that could scar them the most would be a bad result rather than dickwit supporters.

Think seriously about finding something unobtrusive that you can get into the ground that your daughter can stand on. Shame that you probably wont be able to go round the back of a catering area and borrow a milk crate tho. In the old days it was very easy with steel cans - guzzle a 6 pack and stand on the empties

[georgie girl]

We had standing room in '97. No problems with people around us. We were all there bc we wanted to see the Saints.
Was a bit like being in a letter box and looking out of the slot (no sky or scoreboard) but back seats are like that also.
Only problems, were that we didn't win and we were near a bay of Adelaide Crows (which also happened in seats!).
Take something to sit on - check what is allowed with MCC. some people had eskies - mainly to use as seats which I didn't think was allowed. We had some food boxes - like large lunch boxes - was good to sit down at times. Think we will only get standing room too but I wouldn't miss the opportunity!
GO SAINTERS!!

[ozrulestrace]

The last time I did standing room was in the AFL members for the Brisbane v Collingwood GF. The day it rained and rained and rained.

The irony was that people up in the seats were trying to sneak down in the standing room because at least we were dry. So if the same thing happens, stand your ground and tell the seat holders to go away.

I thought the aisle attendants were checking the tickets to make sure you were in the allocated standing room area and to stop sneak ins, well at the start of the game they were.

So I don't think it will be as crowded in the standing room compared to the 70s & 80s where you didn't dare leave in case you couldn't get back in.

[Stephen Theodore]

Stood in the 2004 G.F. Bris v Pt Adel. I'D call it back to basics footy. The Pt Adel ferals in there were fighting before 1/2 time, and come to think of it, they were fighting after 1/2 time, even though they were in front by then. Still, its better than missing out, they have T.Vs scattered along so you can normally see something on T.V. you may miss live.

[saint66au]

So is getting there at gate opening time sufficiently early to snare a spot at the front?

[asiu]

if it buckets down , the standing roomers might be the 'blessed ones'

[SteveStevens66]

Stood at the '71 GF. Got there about 10am and went up to a Salvo who was holding a stack of 100 or 200 tickets! Gave him a 50 cent donation (that's not a typo) and went in. The only problem, aside from the loss, was that I was completely surrounded by Dorks supporters.

[Furphy]

Did standing for some of the 1998 final against Melbourne, a bloody nightmare! I was an AFL member at the time. Thankfully they opened some of the MCG members stand and I got a seat. If you are standing, may God be with you...

[aussiejones]

Did it in 66 behind the goal ......was a real tight squeeze couldnt move an inch.

[Seaford_Saint]

...if so..any advice?

I think the gates open at 9.30ish...do we need to be there earlier than that ? Is it OK for a group to mind spaces while 1-2 of us head out for a while? What time does it get really crowded?

Any help / advice much appreciated

Saint66... I'm sorry you didn't get a seat.... you don't know me, but from my observations, you are clearly one of the most loyal supporters we have.... if anyone deserves a good seat in amongst the Saints throng... it's you!!

Good luck with the Standing room..... my wife and I have 2 seats up in the nose-bleeds..... we are considering trying to fluke a spot in Standing room, but given we can't get there until around 11:30am, I'm not holding much hope... I myself am 6'2'' and 100kgs so can stand my ground, but the missus wouldn't appreciate looking into the back of someone's shoulder blades all day!

Have a great day anyway!

[st.byron]

Went all the GF's between 1976 and 1983 in standing room. It's probably very different now. We used to catch the first train, be first or second in the queue outside the ground and bolt up the stairs to claim a prized spot at the front of the standing room area in the northern stand, just next to the gap between the southern and northern stands. There was a fence that you could lean on between the standing room and seating. We'd get three games and by the time the big one started the standing area was positively heaving. No question of going to the loo. We just used to use empty cans and by the end of the day the standing area would be dotted with cans of wee. Cleaners must have loved it. The atmosphere was great though and some of my fondest memories of going to the footy with my mates are these GF's.

[Leo.J]

Have you been alocated a bay saint66au?

[joffaboy]

Have you been alocated a bay saint66au?

M19 in the AFL members area

[Dal_Santos_Gal]

I was luckly enough to get a standing ticket back in 1997

I was there 2 hours before the gates opened and there was already people in front of me waiting.
The gates opened, and then there was a mad rush to the Bay I was in.
If you are not there when the gates open, I don't think you will be getting a front spot.

The only problems I had being in the standing room, was I lost the ball everytime it was kicked high in the air and when a team scores you can't see anything from people standing in there seats...
Most of the bays have TV''s so you can always look to that when you need too. Means you got a scoreboard near you as well.

Its a long day, it was extra long in 1997 because we lost, but I reckon if we win, the standing all day will be forgotten real quick...

[plugger66]

Have you been alocated a bay saint66au?

M19 in the AFL members area

That is a good area to stand but i hope there is few of you so you can save spots for each other. Also being in the AFL members gives you a slight chance to get a few vacant seats as some may not turn up especially if it rains as they may not be a supporter of either club.

[Leo.J]

Have you been alocated a bay saint66au?

M19 in the AFL members area

M28 for me.

[Solar]

three of us in th pocket near the cheer squad, after the initial disapointment we are so excited! Will get there very early and set up camp. Will post later which bay cause there will lots of stories being told if we are sitting/standing there for 5+ hours before the bounce!!

You never know, if it buckets down we might have the prime SEATS ;P