Melbourne Sports & Outdoors

One of the most important things to do when you are in Melbourne is to enjoy a Victoria Born sport, Australian Rules Football. This used to be the VFL, or Victorian Football League, but it has recently incorporated the whole country and therefore needed to change its name.

Footy is a great game to watch, as the action is pretty continous, and the concept is simple! Kick the ball through the posts, while your opponents try to knock your head off!

Equipment: Just some warm clothes and a great attitude!

Travelling in Melbourne a winter, it would be impossible not to encounter something to do with the Australian Football League or AFL. This sport is an obsession to Victorians along with many other Australians. Many would tell you a trip to Australia in winter would be incomplete without watching a game at the games home, the MCG so pick a team, buy a scarf and go for it! (taking somebody who knows the rules would help a great deal with understanding the game)

Although Aussie rules and cricket are far more popular sports in Australia also European football is fighting for its positions in the sport crazy Australia. In top European series there are many Australian breed players. I`ve seen two matches in Australia and it is very easy to notice the roots of a home team. For example South Melbourne FCs roots are in Greek community. You hear more Greek than English in stands. All the same - I really enjoyed the match. So if you are a football fan take the opportunity to see "real" football also here in Australia.

Aussies are crazy about their football.. "Aussie Rules Football".
In fact Aussies are crazy about sport in general.. Football in winter, and cricket in summer.
Ohh, and there are lots of other sports in between.
I have never really been crazy about sport myself, but do have a favorite team.... The Pies.. (Collingwood)

Collingwood played its first game as a full-fledged member of the VFA on May 7, 1892 against Carlton and lost by two goals to three.
It was the beginning of one of Australian sport's longest running, and strongest, rivalries, which is still very much alive today.

The Magpies were the youngest of the clubs that formed the Victorian Football League in 1897, but have made a huge impact on the competition and the game in general.

Today... Still the best team!

At 2:50pm on the first Tuesday in November, the whole country tunes in.
People that have no interest in horse racing have a bet.Belive me its true ( Speaking for myself) School children are allowed home early to watch it on TV.
The entire state of Victoria has a holiday. Flemington, where the race is held, is a heaving glut of champagne, funny hats, colourful dresses, jockeys, punters, beautiful people, ugly people, normal looking people and those who are sort of non-descript – aka everybody.

At least 150,000 people get to the track, and the same happens at every suburban and metropolitan race-track in the whole country.

Australians go mad for ‘The Cup’, everyone becomes an expert and sweepstakes are held in offices, pubs, clubs, classrooms and parliament houses around the country.

Visiting Melbourne and not checking out a game of "Aussie Rules" at the MCG would be like going to Rome and not visiting the Colesium. Aussie Rules football is the closest thing to a home grown religion in Melbourne and going to a footy match at the MCG (affectionally referred to as the "G") is akin to making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Australians in general are a sports crazy bunch, an especially so Melbournians.

I specifically went to Melbourne to see the Grand Prix, overall it was a pretty good event. Nothing beats actually being there next to the track where the cars are racing, you just can't really connect the same way watching it through the TV.
In my opinion the Melbourne Grand Prix as an event wasn't as good as it's predecessor the Adelaide Grand Prix, the biggest difference being no after-race concert. The after-race entertainment consists of being able to walk along the track and check out pit lane through the wire fences. Also there aren't many parts of the track where the cars go slow. Albert Park is a picturesque setting though, with it's lake, palm trees and green grass.
A General Admission ticket on race day was $95, for the money it's probably better to invest in a grandstand ticket for around $350 which covers all four days and guarantees a decent view.
I recommend getting to the track at least three hours before the race starts. I got there an hour before and all the good spots I came across were jam-packed. If possible, find out from someone in the know where the best areas are.
If played right the Grand Prix can be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Equipment: Ear plugs, hat, beverage, sunglasses, emergency poncho (foldable plastic raincoat), and lightweight chair if going early.

(Unfortunately, I got word from my friend that South Melbourne will not be included in the new National Soccer League starting up later this year. It is a terrible situation and a slap in the face to all soccer fans in Melbourne. The team may go bankrupt because of this and may either dissolve or end up playing in the Victorian state leagues. I will update this tip as more news comes in.)

South Melbourne is one of the National Soccer League (NSL) clubs located in Melbourne. It was founded in 1959 as South Melbourne Hellas, which was backed by Greek immigrants. It joined the NSL in 1977 and has won 4 championships to date. The name Hellas was dropped in order to take away the ethnicity in the game.

South Melbourne plays home games at Bob Jane Stadium at Albert Park. Capacity is 14,000. The season lasts from September to February with playoffs after the season. Check the website for schedules. Ticket prices range from AU$5 to $20.