An elderly woman who has missed just one AFL grand final live since the end of WWII is already lining up to reserve her 2018 seat.
Joy Merchant, 89, arrived at the Melbourne Cricket Ground early on Thursday morning with her son Gary to ensure she has a quality vantage point come the first bounce between Collingwood and West Coast on Saturday.
‘She is a traditionalist, mum loves being first in the queue,’ the 61-year-old said.
Gary and Joy Merchant (pictured) are already camped out at the MCG to ensure they have quality seats for the AFL grand final this Saturday
With close to 100,000 fans to descend on the iconic Australian sporting venue, Gary Merchant told Daily Mail Australia his mum wasn’t leaving anything to chance.
‘We have been lining up like this for a few decades now every September, we sleep in our chairs, luckily they have a cafe nearby.
‘Personally, I think it adds to the occasion, and mum wants to have quality seats, so camping out guarantees that.
‘I also love my footy, I’m flying to Sydney on Sunday to cheer on the (Melbourne) Storm in the NRL, it should be a fun weekend.’
Mr Merchant described his mum, a passionate Geelong supporter, as a ‘sporting tragic.’
‘She can’t get enough, she loves going to Storm games at AAMI Park and then cheers on (Melbourne) Victory in the A-League,’ he said.
‘Mum can’t drive anymore, but that doesn’t stop her, she attends as many games across different codes as she can.
‘She will be going for West Coast this weekend, and even though her team lost, she rates the 1989 grand final between Geelong and Hawthorn as her favourite ever grand final.
‘Saturday will be the 76th grand final she has seen live.’
Gate 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where 89-year-old Joy Merchant and her son Gary will be based until gates open for the AFL grand final on Saturday
Mrs Merchant revealed she has only not attended one decider in the flesh since 1945.
‘It’s our annual picnic,’ she told 3AW.
‘Since 1945 I’ve missed one grand final, back in 1958.
‘I was due in 16 days to have a baby, and I was furious to think they did that to me, I had twins.’
The 2018 AFL grand final starts at 2.30pm this Saturday afternoon, with Collingwood the street tip to win the flag.
Grand final packages were advertised for between $1180 and $4030, with the majority sold as Melbourne hosts one of the lead days on their sporting calendar.
Other desperate fans are willing to pay up to $1000 for a general admission style ticket, with the AFL strongly encouraging spectators not to purchase secondary tickets online or from scalpers outside the MCG.