Skyrocketing airfares mean diehard Collingwood fans make pilgrimage to SCG, any way they can

Diehard Collingwood fans lucky enough to secure a ticket to Saturday’s AFL preliminary final against the Swans at the SCG have taken elaborate measures to make it to the match, making the long pilgrimage from Melbourne to Sydney by bus, train and car after plane fares blew out in excess of $1,000.

Deborah Putt was already on the road on Friday morning with her partner and young son, braving the nine-hour journey from Brighton East for the big game.

“Our seven-year-old, Brooklyn, thought he was going to school for his last day for term three for footy dress-up day, but in fact we surprised him and are driving to Sydney instead,” she said.

“He had no idea. It was the most incredible moment seeing his face. After the excitement, he broke down in tears and just couldn’t believe it was happening.”

Brooklyn was among hundreds of Collingwood punters flying the flag up the Hume from Melbourne on Friday.

A Facebook group called Collingwood Road Trip has amassed more than 700 members since the Magpies took down Fremantle in a knockout clash last Saturday evening.

Group members offered spare seats, tickets and travel advice, and planned team chants to belt out at the stadium.

Wayne Bell’s slog to Sydney started on Thursday morning. He hit the road from his home in Macedon Ranges for a six-and-a-half hour drive to Canberra with his three young boys, sister, 10-year-old nephew and a mate in tow.

“We stayed in Canberra with friends that night before heading to Sydney Friday morning,” he said.

“The boys were extra happy due to getting a couple of days off school.

“Flight prices were clearly through the roof and unaffordable to the everyday person … I was extremely fortunate to get tickets with the system crashing several times.”

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