{"id":122611,"date":"2025-09-06T07:09:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T07:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/122611\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T07:09:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T07:09:09","slug":"premiership-winning-footy-star-calls-out-whats-missing-at-games-in-2025-its-outrageous-they-dont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/122611\/","title":{"rendered":"Premiership-winning footy star calls out what’s missing at games in 2025 – ‘it’s outrageous they don’t’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Food vendors phased out at many AFL groundsFamed for selling pies and drinks to eager fansEx-Collingwood star Dane Swan was in disbelief<\/p>\n

By ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORT REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 02:35 EDT, 6 September 2025 | Updated: 02:50 EDT, 6 September 2025 <\/p>\n

Former AFL<\/a> star Dane Swan was shocked after discovering food vendors armed with meat pies and cold drinks no longer exist at many professional sporting grounds across Australia.<\/p>\n

Swan, 41, who won a premiership with Collingwood in 2010, couldn’t believe the game-day experience has slowly been phased out.<\/p>\n

‘I was ridiculed (by friends) for not realising that people don\u2019t walk around footy stadiums selling hot pies and cold drinks anymore,’ he tweeted on X.<\/p>\n

‘I genuinely would like to know why they don\u2019t these days? It\u2019s outrageous they don\u2019t.’<\/p>\n

A host of footy fans were quick to point out to Swan why supporters can no longer purchase items from food vendors.<\/p>\n

‘Health and safety regulations, as walking around with a tray of food is not keeping the food at a temperature it should be,’ posted one.<\/p>\n

\"Former <\/p>\n

Former AFL star Dane Swan was shocked after discovering footy vendors armed with meat pies and cold drinks no longer exist at many professional sporting grounds across Australia<\/p>\n

\"Vendors <\/p>\n

Vendors were previously part of the game day experience for many footy fans (pictured, a youngster at work at a 2014 AFL game at the MCG)<\/p>\n

\"Swan <\/p>\n

Swan took to X for confirmation and he couldn’t believe the game-day experience has slowly been phased out<\/p>\n

‘Stopped when Covid (global pandemic) started, they (AFL) just haven\u2019t brought it back,’ another said.<\/p>\n

‘Because everyone pays by EFTPOS not cash these days,’ a third weighed in with.<\/p>\n

Daily Mail Australia understands food vendors still cater for fans at games staged at the MCG – but it is a different story elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Food choices at some footy grounds are also very different compared to when Swan was playing for the Magpies between 2002 and 2016.<\/p>\n

At the SCG – home of the Sydney Swans – hospitality giant Merivale now cater for hungry fans, with high-end options such as Queen Chow and Vinnie’s Pizza.<\/p>\n

The Daily Mail also recently visited McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle for an NRL game – and feeding the family didn’t come cheap.<\/p>\n

A seafood basket retailed for $17.20, with fish and chips [$16.20] also hefty in price.<\/p>\n

Even a humble classic beef pie cost $6.60, the same amount for hot chips and a sausage roll.<\/p>\n

Additionally, washing the food down with a couple of beers was an eye-watering experience – cans of Stone & Wood Pacific Ales were $13.80 each.<\/p>\n

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