The AFL Grand Final is here, and it’s Geelong vs Brisbane.
Whoever manages to salute will be the first team to have won five AFL premierships this millennium.
The first-ever grand final between the Lions and Geelong will be the culmination of rivalry stretching back more than 20 years.
As the rampaging Lions collected a premiership three-peat in 2001-03, they routinely bullied a young, rebuilding Geelong team.
But since then Geelong have been an undeniable and consistent juggernaut.
The Cats have missed finals just three times – 2006, 2015 and 2023 – in 21 years and won four premierships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2022) since ending a 43-year drought.
The Cats enter the grand final as strong favourites after eight-straight wins, but Brisbane’s resilience in the current era means they can’t be written off in the race for five flags.
Neos Kosmos spoke to some Greek Australian business owners, supporters of both clubs, who have strong connections to the teams.
Milton and Julia Mavromoustakos of Mavs Greek Restaurant in Geelong love their city’s team.
Julia tells Neos Kosmos that they’ve always watched their success and find it funny that the Cats are blue and white, just like the Greek flag.
Over the years Geelong players have frequented Mav’s. In 2020, club greats Mathew Stokes and Andrew Mackie visited for the Tastes of Central Geelong festival.
Julia also shared that they are very grateful as the club has even helped them in fundraising one year when a family member was sick and needed treatment overseas.
Every time Geelong plays away games, she says the city is quiet, and like in 2022, they’ll be closed for the day.
“We’ll be watching on tv, hopefully celebrating afterwards.”
Over in Brisbane, Renae Dardanis and Kerry Konstantinou from Michael Innis Menswear have been dressing Lions players since the turn of the century.
The two sister’s entire family are diehard Lions supporters.
“We are extremely proud of the Brisbane Lions team… the boys are heading into their third grand final in a row and after winning last year’s cup we couldn’t be more happy for the them, such a massive achievement,” they told Neos Kosmos.
Being a small business they will still be open on grand final day.
Last year they had family and friends come to the shop to watch the game, had Brisbane Lions banners and streamers, wine and cheese platters and a big tv to watch the game on.
“We cheered, we laughed, we ate and drank! We’ll be doing the same this year!”
Last year the team were celebrating their mad Monday locally and co-captain Harris Andrews brought the premiership cup into the shop to show them.
“We have been sponsors of this great club for 25 years and are beyond excited to be a part of their journey.”
