Sports
12 Best Melbourne Pubs to Experience AFL Grand Final Magic Like Never Before
If you didn’t score a seat at the MCG, these Melbourne pubs offer the next best thing – cold beer, big screens, and unforgettable atmosphere.
Grand Final Day in Melbourne is unlike anything else in the sporting calendar. For die-hard fans of AFL, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is hallowed turf, but unless you’ve managed the near-impossible task of securing a ticket, the city’s legendary pubs are your best bet for soaking up the electric atmosphere.
Whether you’re a loyal Collingwood Football Club supporter or just in it for the parmas and pints, Melbourne’s pubs transform into buzzing arenas of their own. Here are 12 of the best places where the AFL Grand Final magic really happens – with plenty of beer taps, roaring crowds, and footy snacks that somehow taste better when your team is winning.
1. College Lawn Hotel, Prahran
Tucked away in Prahran, the College Lawn Hotel boasts 18 big screens so you’ll never miss a single mark, tackle, or goal. The all-weather beer garden becomes a hive of excitement, while the front bar serves Carlton Draught and house favorite Lenny’s Lager. It’s a true neighborhood classic that knows how to put on a show when the siren sounds.
2. The Duke of Wellington, Melbourne CBD
Just a short walk – or pilgrimage – from the MCG, the Duke of Wellington has been part of Melbourne’s footy culture since 1853. With its multi-tier setup, rooftop bar, and more than 20 taps, this pub is perfect for those who want to combine live sport with unbeatable city views. If your team loses, at least the sunset over the skyline will soften the blow.
3. The Great Northern Hotel, Carlton North
A beloved spot for both footy fans and dog owners, the Great Northern Hotel offers an enormous beer garden and over 20 beer taps. Inside, a signed painting of Alex Jesaulenko’s iconic mark of the century reminds you that this pub lives and breathes AFL history. Their chicken parma? Legendary.
4. Mt View Hotel, Richmond
So close to the G you can almost hear the roar of the crowd, Mt View Hotel offers a front bar steeped in tradition and a rooftop bar with stunning views of the stadium itself. Whether you’re warming up before heading into the Shane Warne Stand or staying for the rooftop atmosphere, this pub is a fan favorite.
5. The Birmingham Hotel, Fitzroy
Known affectionately as “The Birmy,” this Smith Street institution has 14 screens and a menu stacked with steaks, burgers, and seven varieties of parma. Tuesdays and Wednesdays bring 50-cent wings, but on Grand Final Day, it’s all about the footy and flowing beer.
6. Kolkata Cricket Club, Southbank
For something different, head to the Kolkata Cricket Club inside Crown Melbourne. Combining the vibe of old-school Indian sports clubs with chef Mischa Tropp’s tandoor-fired butter chicken, this is where cricket and footy fandom collide. Wash it down with a Kingfisher Lager while watching highlights of both AFL and cricket legends.
7. Peacock Hotel, Northcote
Roosting at the top of High Street since 1854, the Peacock Hotel is now a sports mecca with giant HD screens, arcade games, and even an open fire for those chilly Melbourne nights. AFL, NRL, soccer, and tennis all get equal love here, but on Grand Final Day, it’s strictly footy first.
8. The Sporting Globe, Richmond
After a multi-million-dollar renovation, The Sporting Globe is one of the city’s biggest sports bars with 50+ screens and even private booths with touchscreens. Order the infamous “tower of power” cocktail and settle in for AFL heaven.
9. The Imperial Hotel, Melbourne CBD
Located near the Princess Theatre, the Imperial Hotel blends sports and culture. It’s also the official home of Liverpool F.C. fans in Melbourne, meaning late-night matches often run until dawn. On Grand Final Day, the giant screens and pizza specials make it an unmissable venue.
10. Terminus Hotel, Fitzroy North
Family-friendly and festive, the Terminus Hotel (or “Termi”) has one of Melbourne’s largest beer gardens. Their famous “metre of pizza” keeps kids happy while parents cheer on their teams. AFL Grand Final day here is always epic, so booking ahead is smart.
11. Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne
Cheer for the Sydney Swans at their historic South Melbourne home base – the Rising Sun Hotel. With walls decked in red and white memorabilia, this pub is as tribal as it gets. Don’t leave without trying the iconic South Melbourne Dim Sim.
12. Corner Hotel, Richmond
An icon for both live music and sport, the Corner Hotel is buzzing on Grand Final Day. Doors open early, with food trucks dishing out brisket and chicken wings. After the final siren, the party continues in the bandroom, proving why the Corner is one of Melbourne’s most loved venues.
Why These Pubs Matter
The AFL Grand Final is more than a game—it’s a celebration of culture, community, and tradition. Whether you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers at Richmond’s Corner Hotel, raising a pint in Prahran, or digging into a butter chicken at Southbank’s Kolkata Cricket Club, the energy is infectious.
As Eddie McGuire once said about Melbourne’s love for AFL, “It’s not just sport, it’s religion.” On Grand Final Day, the pubs are the cathedrals.
Stay tuned with Daily Global Diary for more Grand Final coverage, live updates, and stories from inside the pubs where the magic truly happens.
Sports
Caleb Williams Impresses, but the Bears’ Late-Game Decisions Raise Eyebrows
One impossible touchdown changed everything — but Chicago’s season may have been decided by what happened next
For one breathtaking moment, football stopped making sense.
With seconds left in a divisional-round playoff game, Caleb Williams launched a prayer — a 50-plus-yard, off-balance, back-foot moon shot — and somehow, impossibly, it found Cole Kmet in the end zone. It was the kind of touchdown that instantly joins NFL folklore, the sort of play fans remember for decades.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bears were one extra point away from tying the Los Angeles Rams — a scenario no one could have imagined just moments earlier.
And that’s when the question arrived, loud and unavoidable:
Why not go for two?
The dream-big argument
If Chicago converts the two-point try, the Rams are done. Season over. The Bears move one game away from the Super Bowl, potentially facing either a second-year quarterback or an injury replacement in the AFC. No matchup in the NFL is easy, but this was a window — and those windows don’t stay open long.
Ask Aaron Rodgers or Dan Marino how rare Super Bowl chances truly are. Between them, 38 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance each. Even greatness doesn’t guarantee multiple shots.
Momentum, belief, shock value — everything screamed end it now. One play. One decision. Push all the chips to the middle.
But football decisions aren’t made in the clouds. They’re made in film rooms.
Why Chicago didn’t gamble
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t flinch. Replays showed him calm, unmoved, almost indifferent to the miracle unfolding. He knew the touchdown created options — but also responsibility.
Because miracles don’t stack.
Just minutes earlier, Chicago had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 5-yard line. Three ineffective runs by De’Andre Swift and a failed fourth-down pass told Johnson everything he needed to know about his short-yardage confidence.
After the game, Johnson explained it plainly.
“Our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very cleanly,” he said. “Our inside-the-5 plan hadn’t worked out like we hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances in overtime.”
There was also time left — 13 seconds and two Rams timeouts. One explosive play, maybe a penalty, and Los Angeles could still have stolen it with a field goal even after a failed conversion.
So Chicago chose survival over glory.
How it unraveled anyway
The Bears lived to fight in overtime — and then watched their season collapse anyway. A brutal interception. A defensive breakdown. Game over.
And just like that, Williams-to-Kmet joined a heartbreaking fraternity: iconic plays that didn’t change the ending. Think Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald in Super Bowl XLIII. Think Julio Jones and that impossible toe-tap in Super Bowl LI.
Legendary moments — frozen in time — attached to losses.
So… was it the wrong call?
Emotionally? Maybe.
Strategically? Probably not.
Coaches don’t get paid to chase vibes. They get paid to trust evidence. And Chicago’s evidence said a single, all-or-nothing snap wasn’t the best bet.
That doesn’t make it satisfying. It just makes it honest.
What this moment really means for Chicago
The Bears don’t leave this game empty-handed. They leave with something rarer than a win: belief.
You can’t build a franchise on miracle throws — but you can build a culture on refusing to quit. This team fought until the very last second, and that matters more than fans often admit.
Williams will be just 24 entering the 2026 season. Think about what he might look like at 27, 28, 29. There are no guarantees — Rodgers and Marino taught us that — but this is as good a foundation as any team could ask for.
Years from now, if Chicago is lucky, Williams-to-Kmet won’t be remembered as a cruel “what if.”
It will be remembered as the beginning.
Sports
A Strong Night for Caleb Williams Ends With Doubts About the Bears’ Late Decisions
One impossible touchdown changed everything — but Chicago’s season may have been decided by what happened next
For one breathtaking moment, football stopped making sense.
With seconds left in a divisional-round playoff game, Caleb Williams launched a prayer — a 50-plus-yard, off-balance, back-foot moon shot — and somehow, impossibly, it found Cole Kmet in the end zone. It was the kind of touchdown that instantly joins NFL folklore, the sort of play fans remember for decades.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bears were one extra point away from tying the Los Angeles Rams — a scenario no one could have imagined just moments earlier.
And that’s when the question arrived, loud and unavoidable:
Why not go for two?
The dream-big argument
If Chicago converts the two-point try, the Rams are done. Season over. The Bears move one game away from the Super Bowl, potentially facing either a second-year quarterback or an injury replacement in the AFC. No matchup in the NFL is easy, but this was a window — and those windows don’t stay open long.
Ask Aaron Rodgers or Dan Marino how rare Super Bowl chances truly are. Between them, 38 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance each. Even greatness doesn’t guarantee multiple shots.
Momentum, belief, shock value — everything screamed end it now. One play. One decision. Push all the chips to the middle.
But football decisions aren’t made in the clouds. They’re made in film rooms.
Why Chicago didn’t gamble
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t flinch. Replays showed him calm, unmoved, almost indifferent to the miracle unfolding. He knew the touchdown created options — but also responsibility.
Because miracles don’t stack.
Just minutes earlier, Chicago had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 5-yard line. Three ineffective runs by De’Andre Swift and a failed fourth-down pass told Johnson everything he needed to know about his short-yardage confidence.
After the game, Johnson explained it plainly.
“Our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very cleanly,” he said. “Our inside-the-5 plan hadn’t worked out like we hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances in overtime.”
There was also time left — 13 seconds and two Rams timeouts. One explosive play, maybe a penalty, and Los Angeles could still have stolen it with a field goal even after a failed conversion.
So Chicago chose survival over glory.
How it unraveled anyway
The Bears lived to fight in overtime — and then watched their season collapse anyway. A brutal interception. A defensive breakdown. Game over.
And just like that, Williams-to-Kmet joined a heartbreaking fraternity: iconic plays that didn’t change the ending. Think Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald in Super Bowl XLIII. Think Julio Jones and that impossible toe-tap in Super Bowl LI.
Legendary moments — frozen in time — attached to losses.
So… was it the wrong call?
Emotionally? Maybe.
Strategically? Probably not.
Coaches don’t get paid to chase vibes. They get paid to trust evidence. And Chicago’s evidence said a single, all-or-nothing snap wasn’t the best bet.
That doesn’t make it satisfying. It just makes it honest.
What this moment really means for Chicago
The Bears don’t leave this game empty-handed. They leave with something rarer than a win: belief.
You can’t build a franchise on miracle throws — but you can build a culture on refusing to quit. This team fought until the very last second, and that matters more than fans often admit.
Williams will be just 24 entering the 2026 season. Think about what he might look like at 27, 28, 29. There are no guarantees — Rodgers and Marino taught us that — but this is as good a foundation as any team could ask for.
Years from now, if Chicago is lucky, Williams-to-Kmet won’t be remembered as a cruel “what if.”
It will be remembered as the beginning.
Sports
Caleb Williams Did His Part But Did the Bears Overthink the Finish
One impossible touchdown changed everything — but Chicago’s season may have been decided by what happened next
For one breathtaking moment, football stopped making sense.
With seconds left in a divisional-round playoff game, Caleb Williams launched a prayer — a 50-plus-yard, off-balance, back-foot moon shot — and somehow, impossibly, it found Cole Kmet in the end zone. It was the kind of touchdown that instantly joins NFL folklore, the sort of play fans remember for decades.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bears were one extra point away from tying the Los Angeles Rams — a scenario no one could have imagined just moments earlier.
And that’s when the question arrived, loud and unavoidable:
Why not go for two?
The dream-big argument
If Chicago converts the two-point try, the Rams are done. Season over. The Bears move one game away from the Super Bowl, potentially facing either a second-year quarterback or an injury replacement in the AFC. No matchup in the NFL is easy, but this was a window — and those windows don’t stay open long.
Ask Aaron Rodgers or Dan Marino how rare Super Bowl chances truly are. Between them, 38 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance each. Even greatness doesn’t guarantee multiple shots.
Momentum, belief, shock value — everything screamed end it now. One play. One decision. Push all the chips to the middle.
But football decisions aren’t made in the clouds. They’re made in film rooms.
Why Chicago didn’t gamble
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t flinch. Replays showed him calm, unmoved, almost indifferent to the miracle unfolding. He knew the touchdown created options — but also responsibility.
Because miracles don’t stack.
Just minutes earlier, Chicago had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 5-yard line. Three ineffective runs by De’Andre Swift and a failed fourth-down pass told Johnson everything he needed to know about his short-yardage confidence.
After the game, Johnson explained it plainly.
“Our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very cleanly,” he said. “Our inside-the-5 plan hadn’t worked out like we hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances in overtime.”
There was also time left — 13 seconds and two Rams timeouts. One explosive play, maybe a penalty, and Los Angeles could still have stolen it with a field goal even after a failed conversion.
So Chicago chose survival over glory.
How it unraveled anyway
The Bears lived to fight in overtime — and then watched their season collapse anyway. A brutal interception. A defensive breakdown. Game over.
And just like that, Williams-to-Kmet joined a heartbreaking fraternity: iconic plays that didn’t change the ending. Think Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald in Super Bowl XLIII. Think Julio Jones and that impossible toe-tap in Super Bowl LI.
Legendary moments — frozen in time — attached to losses.
So… was it the wrong call?
Emotionally? Maybe.
Strategically? Probably not.
Coaches don’t get paid to chase vibes. They get paid to trust evidence. And Chicago’s evidence said a single, all-or-nothing snap wasn’t the best bet.
That doesn’t make it satisfying. It just makes it honest.
What this moment really means for Chicago
The Bears don’t leave this game empty-handed. They leave with something rarer than a win: belief.
You can’t build a franchise on miracle throws — but you can build a culture on refusing to quit. This team fought until the very last second, and that matters more than fans often admit.
Williams will be just 24 entering the 2026 season. Think about what he might look like at 27, 28, 29. There are no guarantees — Rodgers and Marino taught us that — but this is as good a foundation as any team could ask for.
Years from now, if Chicago is lucky, Williams-to-Kmet won’t be remembered as a cruel “what if.”
It will be remembered as the beginning.
“He-Man Wears a Suit…”: Why Nicholas Galitzine’s Masters of the Universe Trailer Has Fans Talking
Camilla Läckberg Isn’t Done Yet… The Queen of Swedish Noir Eyes Film, TV and a Bold Plan to ‘Conquer America’
“Screaming, Crying, Almost Throwing Up”… Sundance Insiders Reveal the Untold Chaos Behind America’s Most Influential Film Festival
From Swedish Noir to Hollywood Dreams Camilla Läckberg Has a Bigger Plan in Motion
When Sundance Nearly Fell Apart Insiders Recall the Chaos Behind the World’s Most Influential Film Festival
1-Iran Issues Dire Warning to Israel and Defies Trump on Nukes: “We’re Ready to Strike Deep Inside”
Donald Trump’s net worth reveals the fortune behind the former US President and business mogul
Caitlin Clark Sidelined with Quad Strain, Set to Miss Two Weeks of WNBA Action
Elon Musk Breaks Ranks with Trump Over ‘Big, Beautiful’ Tax Bill
“Tomás Rodríguez Net Worth 2025: Panama’s Gold Cup Goal‑Machine’s Surprising Fortune Revealed”
Miss Jamaica Suffers Terrifying Fall Off Miss Universe Stage; Rushed to Hospital on Stretcher in Viral Video
Moana Live-Action Teaser Sparks Outrage as Fans Call Disney’s Move a ‘Clear Money Grab’ — What Went Wrong?
Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary Trailer Stuns Fans with a Mysterious Alien Ally and a Mission That Could Save Earth
Apple delays Jessica Chastain thriller The Savant about domestic extremism after recent US violence
Avatar 3, Fire and Ash trailer reveals Jake Sully’s family facing terrifying new Na’vi enemies with deadly fire powers
-
Entertainment6 days agoHe-Man Wears a Suit Now… Nicholas Galitzine’s ‘Masters of the Universe’ Trailer Drops a Shock Fans Didn’t See Coming
-
Entertainment1 week agoBrazil Eyes Oscar History Again… ‘The Secret Agent’ Scores Best Picture Nomination as Wagner Moura Stuns Hollywood
-
Entertainment4 days ago“Comedy Needs Courage Again…”: Judd Apatow Opens Up on Mel Brooks, Talking to Rob Reiner, and Why Studio Laughs Have Vanished
-
Entertainment1 week agoBox Office Shocker as Chris Pratt’s ‘Mercy’ Knocks ‘Avatar 3’ Off the Top but Nature Had Other Plans…
-
Entertainment6 days agoOscars Go Global in a Big Way as This Year’s Nominations Signal a New Era: ‘The Academy Is Finally Looking Beyond Hollywood…’
-
Entertainment1 week agoMichael Bay Makes a Power Move… Blockbuster Director Signs with CAA in a Deal That’s Turning Heads
-
Entertainment6 days ago“Dangerously Kinky… and Darkly Funny”: Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman Push Boundaries in ‘I Want Your Sex’
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Fans Didn’t Expect This Look… Nicholas Galitzine’s Masters of the Universe Trailer Sparks Debate