There are 18 screens – count ‘em – dotted throughout this popular backstreet Prahran hangout. That means you’re guaranteed to never be too far away from whatever action happens to be playing on the day, in whatever codes (AFL, rugby union and cricket dominate, while side orders of American football and combat sports get a look-in, too). The all-weather beer garden gets rowdy with revellers, while the front bar is for the more serious discernment of humankind’s quest to dominate, with the help of eight tap beers including old faithful Carlton Draught and Lenny’s Lager, named after the former venue manager’s bulldog. 36 Greville St, Prahran; collegelawnhotel.com.au

The 1.4-kilometre pilgrimage from the Duke of Wellington to the MCG has been traversed by the footy-faithful for time immemorial, or at least since both institutions were built in 1853. Like The G, this pub on the corner of Flinders and Russell Streets has undergone a serious transformation over the years, resulting in a multi-tiered venue with a dining room, cocktail bar and sports bar with 20 beer taps and a serious commitment to turning the AFL Grand Final into a full-throttle celebration. If your team isn’t winning, the amazing city views from the rooftop bar can bring some consolation. 2/146 Flinders St, Melbourne; dukeofwellington.com.au

A laidback pub with a very dog-friendly policy, the Great Northern shows its love for all sports – but particularly AFL – in the front bar, where you can see a signed painting of Alex Jesaulenko’s iconic 50-year-old mark of the century. As homey as it is huge, no space here goes without a screen, including in the huge beer garden. Expect more than 20 beer taps to offer a globe’s worth of refreshing choice to slake your thirst, while the bistro’s gargantuan meals include a chicken parma that’s been on Melbourne’s best-dressed lists for as long as we can remember. 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North; gnh.net.au

It’s so close to the MCG, you can almost see the action on the hallowed turf, but this buzzing pub offers plenty of sporting attractions of its own, thanks to the screens dotted across the venue. The ground-floor bar is as old-school as they come; grab a beer before taking the five-minute walk to claim your seat in the Shane Warne Stand, or settle into the Mt Views’ own atmospheric ecosystem. Up top, its crowning glory is a rooftop bar bedazzled with the bright lights of The G and 360-degree city views. It doesn’t get much better than that. 68/70 Bridge Rd, Richmond; mtviewhotel.com.au

The roar of a revved-up crowd is a common soundwave along Smith Street thanks to ‘The Birmy’. The code-agnostic joint has 14 screens and an open-minded policy when it comes to the choice of sport, although its position across the road from Collingwood might give you an idea of where its true passions lie. The dining room promises no upsets with its tried-and-true menu of steaks, skewers and burgers, plus there are seven types of parma to choose from. Tuesdays and Wednesdays bring 50-cent wings, while 16 beer taps keep the good times flowing, whether your team is up or down. 333 Smith St, Fitzroy; birminghamhotel.com.au

Games on the telly, rich butter chicken and a cold Kingfisher lager? For a sports bar with a difference, this newbie at Crown Casion is hard to beat. Australian-Indian chef Mischa Tropp wowed the crowds at his Kerala-by-way-of-Fitzroy restaurant Toddy Shop, and has hit another six with his spin on India’s members-only sports clubs of old, complete with a memorabilia-decorated front sports bar. The food is perfectly executed – that butter chicken uses poultry cooked over charcoal in the tandoor – and if there’s nothing current to play on the TVs, you can always happily relive the glorious highlights of yesteryear. 8 Whiteman St Level 1 Casino, Crown Melbourne, Southbank; kolkatacricketclub.com

Roosting at the top of Northcote’s High Street hill since 1854, the Peacock has become a modern-day sports mecca. Commandeer a table in the sports lounge for the full HD big-screen experience, where you’ll find everything from AFL and NRL to international soccer and tennis playing live. You won’t be bored at half time, with fun taken care of by two pool tables, along with arcade games. There’s an open fire, too, or you can hit what’s one of the Inner North’s best beer gardens. During the week, events like $17 steak night on Tuesdays bring the crowds flocking in. 210 High St, Northcote; peacockinnhotel.com

Tipping! Darts! Footy! This sports mega-bar covers all bases then invents a few more. A multi-million-dollar reno saw this Bridge Road boozer reopen last year equipped with high-tech gadgetry designed to make sports fandom even more fun. There are 50+ screens dotted around the venue, and you can also try your luck getting a booth with its own touchscreen TV. There are plenty of beer choices, but you can also order a multi-player cocktail ‘tower of power’. Steak sangas Aussie-fied with beetroot and egg, barbecue beef brisket sliders and Portuguese chicken wraps will fuel you through a full-throttle session. 288 Bridge Rd, Richmond; thesportingglobe.com.au

Sport and the arts collide at this landmark corner pub close to the Princess Theatre. It’s where pre-show revellers gather and ginormous TV screens ensure no one misses out on front row seats for the AFL, NRL, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, UFC, WCL and all of the other sporting world’s acronyms. It’s also the official home of Liverpool FC supporters, so expect a sea of white and red on game days (the venue’s 24-hour license means they can go into the wee hours if the fixture demands). Pizza, chicken parmas and burgers will get you through those late-night games. 2-8 Bourke St, Melbourne; bourkestreetimperial.com

The family-friendly vibes are high at this tarted-up old boozer near Clifton Hill railway station (or four stops on the train from the MCG, as the Termi prefers to say). The vast beer garden means the kids can freely stretch their legs while the grown-ups watch the game – just cut a slice off the ‘metre of pizza’ or toss them a fried chicken tender every time they pass by to keep your viewing undisturbed. AFL Grand Final celebrations here are always epic (so book ahead), but if your preferred sport is trivia, Tuesday nights will have you fully covered. 492 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North; terminus.com.au

It might have had a new lick of paint, but the North Fitzroy Arms remains a sports pub at heart. The 150-year-old pub has plenty of specials in the front bar and big screens in the beer garden. Get a couple of Crownies or grab a bucket and settle in for a great afternoon. 296 Rae St, Fitzroy North; northfitzroyarms.com.au.

Cheer on the Bloods on their original South Melbourne turf at the Rising Sun Hotel. The sea of red and white paraphernalia inside will quickly confirm the unabashed allegiances at play in this storied pub, which stood opposite the South Melbourne Swans’ former home ground for more than a century. While fanatics have long since booked out seated tables, walk-ins will be welcomed on the big day from 10am. Fuel up with another South Melbourne icon – the South Melbourne Dim Sim, brought in from their market home nearby. 2 Raglan St, South Melbourne. risingsunhotel.au

The first south-side foray from the team behind Fitzroy’s beloved Marquis of Lorne, the scale of the Mount Erica means there’s plenty of room to squeeze in elbow-to-elbow come Grand Final Day if you’ve missed out on a booking in the dining room; with the bar and courtyard reserved for walk-ins. Despite its relative youth, this is a classic pub, so stick with the classics and say yes to the schnitty – gussied up here with hunks of bocconcini, a cabbage slaw and a generous wedge of lemon for squeezing. 420 High St, Prahran. mountericahotel.com.au

The refurbed Railway Hotel is the chicest pub in the village to pull up a pew for Grand Final day. Get in early to secure a spot on the rooftop deck, where the game will be played live and loud. Keep the energy high with an espresso martini and snack your way through the share plates like lamb kofta with tzatziki, pomegranate and warm pita. Or opt for a Cape Grim grass-fed steak. 35 Anderson St, Yarraville. railwayhotelyarraville.com.au

Close enough to the ’G to hear the crowd roar, the Corner is gearing up for a big Granny day, with doors down and upstairs opening at 9am, along with the kitchen. Get in early for a table on the rooftop, and fill a table from the snack menu like the manchego croquettes and paprika-dusted calamari with a cajun aioli. Or pile into the carpark from 10am and fill up the Southern way with brisket and spiced chicken wings from the Smokey Boiz food truck. Stick around after the final siren for an afterparty as only this iconic live music venue could offer in the bandroom. 57 Swan St, Richmond. cornerhotel.com