BotF is in Melbourne again at the last minute. Dinner was enjoyed at the Maori Chief Hotel in Moray St, South Melbourne. This a great traditional workers pub. It has the most eclectic collection of seemingly unrelated and related memorabilia on it’s walls.
There is a range of artwork of paintings of Maori scenes as well as 3D masks and statues. There is also a pot-pourri of Spanish and unrecognizable pictures.
The loyalty to NZ beer is obvious. Tui and Monteiths is available on tap and in bottles. I had a pot of Tui, which was a dark copper colour. Good bitter flavour and definitely worth trying again.
I took the opportunity to read the Herald Sun. If there is any doubt about Melbourne’s complete fixation on AFL you only have to read this tabloid. Sydney’s equivalent- the NRL Daily aka the Telegraph – doesn’t come close to the obsession displayed by the Herald Sun. Of the 104 pages of the Monday edition of the Herald Sun, 46 pages were devoted to the AFL GF. Extraordinary.
back of the ferry 
As apoint of order I think you will find that the Herald Sun (like the Telegraph) is actually a tabloid newspaper and the AGE and SMH are broadsheet