San Francisco 49ers players, fans and media have made the nearly 13,000-kilometre trip to Melbourne for the NFL’s landmark visit to Australia — and while the football is the headline act, everyday local sights have also caught the Americans off guard.
The 49ers are set to meet the Los Angeles Rams at the MCG on Friday, marking the first NFL regular-season fixture ever played in Australia.
San Francisco touched down a week ahead of the season opener, allowing the squad and its travelling contingent to adjust to the 17-hour time gap, hold training sessions at AAMI Park and get a taste of life in Melbourne.
But settling in has come with a few unexpected moments.
An early point of confusion emerged when American fans saw the view from 49ers star Jordan Watkins’ Melbourne hotel room and wrongly identified a nearby train depot as an electrical substation.
‘The #49ers left Cali, just to sleep in a hotel next to another Substation,’ one fan account posted on X.
San Francisco 49ers players have arrived in Melbourne ahead of Australia’s first NFL regular-season game at the MCG
Former 49ers players were introduced to the Bunnings sausage sizzle while attending community events during their Melbourne visit
The 49ers arrived a week early to adjust to Melbourne, while the Rams planned a significantly shorter Australian stay
Another wrote in capital letters: ‘The 49ers hotel in Australia is right next to a substation. You cannot make this up.’
Australian sports reporter Vince Rugari enjoyed the confusion.
‘Thoroughly enjoying the posts from US reporters landing in Australia for the NFL and acting like they have actually landed on Mars. God bless you all,’ he wrote.
The 49ers have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure their players have familiar food, drinks and training facilities throughout the trip.
Channel Seven reporter Andrew McCormack revealed the franchise transported about 13 pallets of bottled water from Hawaii.
The head chef from the team’s Melbourne hotel also spent a week at the 49ers’ headquarters in California, where a specific menu was prepared for every meal and snack.
Australia’s strict biosecurity laws created another unusual challenge.
The club needed to ensure its equipment was free of Californian soil and grass before entering the country, while customs officials reportedly refused to allow its supply of protein powder through the border.
American fans mistook a train depot near the 49ers’ Melbourne hotel for an electrical substation after seeing online photos
American reporter Grant Cohn documented his encounters with Australian coffee, meat pies, magpies, pubs and the metric system
The humble urinal was one part of Australian culture that baffled the travelling Americans
The operation involved a Qantas Airbus A380 carrying 220 passengers and about 15,000kg of equipment. Another 27,200kg of NFL equipment was shipped to Australia in April.
San Francisco’s players have found more time to explore Melbourne after the meticulous preparations.
Former 49ers stars Joe Nedney, Justin Pugh and Ian Williams were introduced to the Bunnings sausage sizzle, with Williams revealing it was his first time working behind a barbecue.
American reporter Grant Cohn has documented his own experiences since arriving.
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He has praised Australian coffee, meat pies and accents, but was less impressed by the metric system, aggressive magpies and a burrito that he claimed contained ’50 per cent sour cream’.
Cohn was also fascinated by Australian pub urinals where patrons ‘stand on the grate at the bottom’.
After attending Sydney’s AFL finals victory over Brisbane at the SCG, he attracted attention for pronouncing Lachie Neale’s first name as ‘Lashay’.
His first chicken parmigiana and Australian beer appeared to receive a much warmer review.
San Francisco trained at AAMI Park after facilities were modified to recreate the team’s usual California recovery environment
The 49ers attended public events throughout Melbourne as they attempted to build a connection with Australian NFL supporters
‘That’s delicious,’ Cohn said after tasting a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale.
49ers kicker Eddy Piñeiro has been among the visitors most willing to embrace the experience.
Piñeiro attended the AFL finals at the MCG and was particularly interested in the sport’s kicking skills.
‘What an opportunity, I am blessed to be here,’ he said.
‘It’s just the atmosphere and seeing these athletes out here, it’s been awesome.
‘[AFL footy] has been amazing, you see all the kicks and punting and kicking, obviously I’m a kicker so you love to see that.
‘First observations, the food has been amazing and the coffee has been great too.
‘My family is super proud and just to be able to play this game, it’s awesome.’
Piñeiro also explained why Australian fans should adopt San Francisco as their NFL team.
‘We’ve come in here a week early, getting accustomed to the time, the people, so we’re ready to rock and roll,’ he said.
‘We’re going to be practising here and just enjoying the food and honestly the people here are amazing, very nice people.’
Star defensive end Nick Bosa initially offered a more subdued assessment before the trip.
Asked what he was looking forward to, Bosa said: ‘Not really. I don’t know much about Australia.
‘I hear they have good coffee so I will try and take advantage of that. I think there are some nature exhibits to check out.’
The 49ers have also spent the week attending public events and interacting with local supporters.
Their approach contrasts sharply with the Rams, who are reportedly planning to arrive shortly before the game and spend only about 24 hours in Melbourne.
American journalist Dontay Atkinson predicted that difference would help create a heavily pro-49ers crowd, despite Los Angeles officially being the home team.
The visitors have already made their mark, with 1424 people participating in a 49ers event that set a world record for the largest cheerleading dance.