If our staff competition was an AFL season

This competition played out like a full AFL season — ladder swings, late momentum, pressure moments, and a finish decided by the smallest of margins. Every team brought a different style of footy, but the sides that showed belief, discipline, and teamwork were the ones still standing at the end.

FOH and BOH pulled on the same jumper, played for each other, and brought The Grand to life along the way. Here’s how the season unfolded team by team.

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🥇 YOUNG & JACKSON 🟡 – THE PREMIERS

Final Score: 1,164 pts
AFL identity: The late‑season surge team
Game style: Fast, fearless, high‑pressure football

Young & Jackson delivered the ultimate last‑to‑first premiership run.

Early rounds had them sitting near the bottom of the ladder, but instead of panicking, they trusted the game plan. Once confidence clicked, they lifted pressure, took risks, and backed themselves in every contest. By finals time, they weren’t just winning — they were peaking.

Top players:

• Mel – Engine‑room mid, keeps them moving quietly and efficiently
• Hannah – Relentless pressure, never lets off
• Nick – Ironman consistency, week in, week out
• Trent – X‑factor: energy, upselling, crowd connection
• Ellie – Big‑moment player under pressure
• Miller – Reliable role player
• Sean Kennedy – Utility who always delivered when called on

Belief, momentum, and fearless footy — premiers earned.

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🥈 THE CORNER HOTEL 🔵 – THE MINOR PREMIERS

Final Score: 1,158 pts
AFL identity: Old‑school powerhouse
Game style: Structured, disciplined, ruthless with the basics

The Corner were the benchmark side for most of the season.

They led the competition for weeks through consistency and standards. With one of the smallest lists, they played heavy minutes, trusted their systems, and never dropped intensity. A classic professional outfit that didn’t chase noise — just execution.

Molly wore the captaincy hard all season — her shoulders must be sore — but the support around her never wavered.

Top players:

• Molly – Captain’s season: leadership, grit, carrying the side
• Matt – Versatile and dependable
• Emer – Structural backbone, systems locked in
• Tyler – Role clarity and reliability every service

Lost the grand final by six points — that’s elite footy margins.

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🥉 THE ESPY 🔴 – THE CONTENDERS

Final Score: 1,084.5 pts
AFL identity: The pressure team that keeps coming
Game style: Methodical, improving, relentless

The Espy were the classic slow‑burn side.

They didn’t explode early, but every round they got better. Skills sharpened, roles became clearer, and confidence built steadily. By the pointy end of the season, they were a team no one wanted to face.

Top players:

• Millie – Consistent performer all season
• Sarjeena – Strong support through the spine
• Alison – Calm leader under pressure
• Richard – Organiser and tactician
• Sienna – Organisation weapon
• Aki – High work‑rate role player

Built a finals‑ready list and closed hard.

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🟢 THE TOTE – THE WILDCARD

Final Score: 950.5 pts
AFL identity: Chaos side, lethal on the big stage
Game style: High impact, confidence‑driven

The Tote were at their most dangerous when the lights were on.

They thrived in challenge situations, delivered back‑to‑back wins, and showed they could dominate under pressure. Their early momentum was driven by strong leadership, particularly in structured challenges, and they were never short on confidence or energy.

As the season wore on, consistency across the full program is where points slipped — not for lack of effort, but follow‑through.

Top players:

• Dylan – Captain who stood up in key challenges and set the tone early
• Jackson – Tempo‑setter, always around the contest
• Kane – Hard‑nosed worker doing the unglamorous jobs
• Lil C – Energy spark that lifts the group
• Will – Clutch contributor when it mattered

When they were firing, they were hard to stop.

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🏆 THE CLUB – ONE JUMPER

With margins this tight, the season came down to the one‑percenters — training someone new, documenting a task, supporting a teammate, or backing an idea. FOH and BOH playing as one club made the difference.

We also landed on our winning GRAND mantra, built from ideas across three of the teams:

“The GRAND – Good times start with great people. Proudly local. Warmly welcoming. Where legends begin.”

That’s not just a slogan — the season proved it.

Full‑time siren. Season done. Premiers crowned.
Everyone played their role.

A week of chaos, comebacks, clutch moments… and a leaderboard that has exploded wide open.

Triple Points Week. The Grand Price Is Right Challenge. Back‑to‑back Tote wins. And four venues fighting like it’s finals footy.

This wasn’t just a competition week — it was a plot twist.

Let’s get into the story.

🏆 CURRENT LEADERBOARD

🥇 The Corner Hotel 🔵

933 pts
Still leading — but the margin is razor‑thin.

🥈 The Espy 🔴

895.5 pts
⬆️ Only 37.5 pts off the lead — biggest mover this round.

🥉 Young & Jackson 🟡

872 pts
Just 61 pts behind — and they’ve got the pie this week. Danger.

4️⃣ The Tote 🟢

775.5 pts
🔥 Back‑to‑back challenge winners. Quietly chaotic. Absolutely not done.

🔵 THE CORNER HOTEL

Started: 512 pts → Now: 933 pts (+421) Still holding 1st — but only just.

The Corner came into the week with the target on their back — and instead of cracking, they doubled down.

Dan drops an Italian special so good it sells 56 plates in 5 days. That’s not a special — that’s a movement.

Molly rallies the troops, Matt and Alex step up, and with only three players, they still take 3rd place in the Price Is Right Challenge. That’s grit.

Meanwhile:

• Jeremy keeps Kerry Bar tight
• Emer keeps IK spotless
• Bridget becomes the Queen of Cutlery and sells out raffle tickets
• Sammie lands a positive review
• And the team pumps out training videos like a production studio — cake presentations, dehydrators, carbonara, Bepoz screens, table resets… the works.

This wasn’t luck. This was leadership + consistency + execution.

🔵 POINTS RECAP — THE CORNER HOTEL

• Picking up shifts: 95 pts
• Price Is Right Challenge: 145 pts
• Positive review (Sammie): 10 pts
• Prawn linguine special: 56 pts
• Cleaning: 12 + 3 + 3 + 12 = 30 pts
• Training videos: 75 pts
• Customer votes: 10 pts

Total earned this week: 421 pts

🔴 THE ESPY

Started: 459.5 pts → Now: 895.5 pts (+436) Now only 37.5 points off 1st.

The Espy are the team that keeps knocking on the door — and this week, they nearly kicked it down.

The Price Is Right Challenge? They miss 1st place by 15 points. One spin. One guess. One moment.

Eva is learning pass while pushing the special — that’s hustle. Sienna resets the staff cupboard like a renovation show reveal. Richard does the same in the kitchen. Ryder helps the chefs. Elvis jumps in. Millie stays consistent.

And then the training video moment: “How to Clock In” — simple, useful, and worth 30 bonus points.

Spanakopita sells 57 plates. Shifts get picked up. Cleaning gets done. Momentum builds.

The Espy aren’t just chasing. They’re hunting.

🔴 POINTS RECAP — THE ESPY

• Picking up shifts: 50 pts
• Price Is Right Challenge: 243 pts
• Spanakopita special: 57 pts
• Cleaning: 36 pts
• Training videos: 20 pts + 30 bonus = 50 pts

Total earned this week: 436 pts

🟡 YOUNG & JACKSON

Started: 436 pts → Now: 872 pts (+436) Only 61 points off 1st — and they’ve got the pie this week.

If this competition had a Netflix series, Young & Jackson would be the chaotic fan‑favourite.

Last week? They bomb the Parma Challenge. They finish last in the Price Is Right. It looks grim.

But this team doesn’t stay down — they swing back.

The Cheeseburger Tacos? A customer literally calls the venue just to say they were “amazing.”

Then another call — praising Caitlin’s service. Greg K puts on a sombrero and becomes the unofficial taco mascot. Ellie takes on the selfie challenge and smashes it — 50 bonus points.

Cleaning? Massive. Customer interaction? Huge. Training videos? Strong. Trent’s joke of the day + upselling? 20 points of pure charisma.

This team went from “uh oh” to “holy sh*t, they’re back.”

And now… they’ve got the pie this week. Which means anything — literally anything — could happen.

🟡 POINTS RECAP — YOUNG & JACKSON

• Picking up shifts: 35 pts
• Price Is Right Challenge: 145 pts
• Positive review (Caitlin): 20 pts
• Cheeseburger tacos: 46 pts + 20 pts Pete’s Pick = 66 pts
• Cleaning & customer interaction: 50 + 50 + 10 = 110 pts
• Training videos: 40 pts
• Trent’s upselling + joke of the day: 20 pts

Total earned this week: 436 pts

🟢 THE TOTE

Started: 349.5 pts → Now: 775.5 pts (+426) Back‑to‑back challenge winners — the chaos agents of the comp.

The Tote are the team that show up when the lights are brightest.

Price Is Right Challenge? 1st place again. Lily, lily, Dylan and Wil — unstoppable.

The pies? 69 sold + 20 points for top special.

Kane scraping gum off furniture like a man possessed. Shifts picked up. Cleaning done.

But then the twist: 0 training videos in a triple‑points week.

That’s the moment that could cost them the comp… or set them up for a massive final‑week comeback.

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned: The Tote love a challenge.

🟢 POINTS RECAP — THE TOTE

• Price Is Right Challenge: 256 pts
• Pies sold: 69 pts + 20 bonus = 89 pts
• Cleaning: 21 pts
• Picking up shifts: 60 pts
• Training videos: 0 pts

Total earned this week: 426 pts

🔥 THE FINAL WEEK STORYLINE

Here’s where we stand:

• The Corner lead by just 37.5 points
• The Espy are right behind them
• Young & Jackson are only 61 points off 1st — AND they have the pie this week
• The Tote are the wildcard — back‑to‑back challenge winners who could blow up the leaderboard

This is the closest finish we’ve ever had.

Every team has shown they can win. Every team has had standout performers. Every team is still in this competition.

Final week. Everything on the line. Anything can happen. Let’s go

The House Cup is heating up and after a massive week across the board, the leaderboard is tight with plenty still to play for.

Current Standings:

• 🔵The Corner – 512 points
• 🔴The Espy – 459.5 points
• 🟡Young & Jackson – 436 points
• 🟢The Tote – 349.5 points

Momentum is shifting, teams are stepping up, and every shift is counting 👀

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🔵 The Corner – Leaders (512 points)

Another huge week from The Corner, continuing to set the standard.

+20 points for picking up shifts
+10 points to Bridget for not one but two positive reviews
+51 points for cleaning — outstanding effort across the team
+33 points for the halloumi burger special
+20 points for Pete’s Pick of the Week

The halloumi burger took a minute to find its feet, but once the pumpkin was added it became a standout. Credit to Matt and the team — and VC Molly definitely helped move a few of those.

Behind the scenes:

• Tyler leading cleaning (and doing it with a smile — even handling a vomit clean-up)
• Dan stepping up to drive the Italian Kitchen special
• Charlotte jumping in with cardboard runs
• First to step up and cut limes when the bar ran out
• Laila getting stuck into the bar clean
• IK area organised for a full steam clean

Parma Challenge – 2nd Place
Ben and Molly worked really well together. Calm, composed, and showed initiative — even offering gravy and cutlery. Parma was excellent, chips just needed a touch more time.

A seriously consistent team. Still the benchmark.

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🔴 The Espy – Charging (459.5 points)

Massive week from The Espy — right back in the hunt.

+83 points for the pie special — most sold across all teams
+20 bonus points for top-selling special
+20 points for picking up shifts
+50 points for cleaning — strong team effort

The pie dominated — no question. Huge result.

Across the venue:

• Richard jumping on FOH pass during a busy lunch
• Mikey scrubbing benches clean
• Millie handling gutters
• Sarjeena mentoring Sienna
• Alison tidying the fireplace and organising kindling
• Team improving footy flag process and post-bin clean-ups
• Sweeping standards lifted right across the board

Parma Challenge – 203.5 (just missing 2nd by 0.5)
Sarjeena and Sienna were excellent — calm, great communication, and a really well-executed parma. Just let down slightly by the salad.

With the pie now done… can they hold this momentum?

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🟡 Young & Jackson – Building (436 points)

A strong, well-rounded week from Young & Jackson.

+25 points for picking up shifts
+40 points for cleaning
+33 points for the mushroom risotto — great result with limited IK hours
+20 points for Trent’s kitchen hand training video
+50 points to Caitlin for getting customers involved

Strong leadership from Trent, setting the tone and leading by example. Mel continuing to drive the team and even helping other teams (that pumpkin idea making the rounds 👀).

This team knows how to pick a special and back it up.

Parma Challenge – 4th Place (146 points)
Good start and strong communication early, but a few execution errors and missed presentation points held them back.

With cheeseburger tacos this week… watch out.

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🟢 The Tote – Team of the Week (349.5 points)

Big week from The Tote and a huge result in the challenge.

+20 points for the empanada special
+229.5 points for 1st place in the Parma Challenge
+30 points for cleaning
+20 points for Ben’s Team of the Week — Lily & Zara

Lily and Zara delivered a near perfect parma with great teamwork and execution. Lily also showing great initiative upselling the empanadas — exactly what we want.

Strong team contributions:

• Kane, Hailey and Sam consistently sending great videos
• Dylan leading from the front and driving standards

Cleaning got the points this week, but there’s more in this team — get those photos in.

With the pie this week, they’ll be chasing serious points — but they need to get posting. Time is running out.

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🔥 Heading Into Week Three

We’re only two weeks in and it’s already tight across the board.

• 1st to 2nd: 52.5 points
• 2nd to 3rd: 23.5 points
• 3rd to 4th: 86.5 points

With more points up for grabs this week — specials, cleaning, challenges and team contributions — there’s plenty still to play for.

One big week can change everything.

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🍽️ This Week at The Grand

• New weekly specials across the venue
• Teams competing every shift
• Energy, creativity and a bit of rivalry behind everything we do

Come down, try the specials, and be part of it.

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The Grand is all about great food, great drinks, and great people — and right now, the competition is taking things to another level.

See you at the bar 🍻

🔥 Parma Challenge Recap – What a Day!

What a great afternoon of fun, energy, and a bit of chaos (the good kind).

This challenge was all about flipping the script — giving our chefs the task of teaching someone unfamiliar with the kitchen how to cook, using only written instructions and miming. No stepping in, no taking over — just communication, patience, and leadership.

At the same time, it gave our FOH team a real insight into the pressures of the kitchen — timing, multitasking, and the importance of clear communication under pressure. Safe to say, there’s a new level of respect across both sides of the pass after this one.

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⚡ The Energy

The energy was unreal from the start.

Sienna and Molly were clearly the most nervous (in the best way), with Sienna even rocking a chef’s jacket to fully commit to the role — you love to see it.

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🏅 The Results

4th Place – Young & Jackson (146 points)

Nick and Sean came out with great communication early, backed by strong motivation from their captain Trent… but that’s where it plateaued.

Nerves may have crept in — Sean jumped the gun early, leaving his schnitzel in the fryer a little too long (extra crispy was not the brief). Instructions weren’t fully followed, with chips and salad being pushed too early, leading to penalties.

A missed opportunity on presentation and judges’ bonus points hurt them here. A decent parma — just not a great one.

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3rd Place – The Espy (203.5 points)

Missing out on second by just half a point, Sarjeena and Sienna were a fantastic team.

They listened well, stayed composed, and Sarjeena in particular was outstanding in how she communicated and settled the nerves. The parma itself was hot, juicy, and well executed.

The only thing holding them back was the salad — a bit too much dressing and not enough mixing, leaving clumps of carrot. So close.

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2nd Place – The Corner (204 points)

Ben and Molly delivered a very strong performance.

Ben’s calm approach really helped settle Molly early, and they stayed composed throughout. A few points dropped for talking, but they made up for it with initiative — even offering gravy and cutlery at the end.

The parma was excellent, chips just needed a touch longer and a bit more seasoning to take it to the next level.

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🥇 1st Place – The Tote (229.5 points incl. bonus)

Zara and Lily — the youngest team in the comp — absolutely stole the show.

Scoring 209.5 points plus a 20 point bonus, they delivered what was judged as a perfect parma. Calm, composed, and executed with confidence well beyond their years.

They missed out on training points due to being a late entry… but clearly didn’t need them.

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👏 Final Thoughts

This is exactly what The Grand is about — teamwork, learning, stepping outside your comfort zone, and having a bit of fun along the way.

Huge credit to everyone who got involved. Whether you were cooking, teaching, or just watching — there was something in it for everyone.

And if nothing else… there’s now a whole new respect between FOH and BOH.

More to come 👀

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🏆 GRAND PUB HOUSE CUP – WEEK 1 WRAP UP 🏆

What a start.

Exactly what we wanted — energy, buy-in, a bit of chaos, and teams starting to take real ownership of their areas. This comp is already doing what it’s meant to do.

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👀 WHAT IS THE HOUSE CUP?

For our guests — here’s what you’re seeing around the venue:

We’ve split our team into four houses, each representing iconic Melbourne pubs:

🟡 Young & Jackson
🔵 The Corner
🔴The Espy
🟢 The Tote

Each staff member is part of a team (you’ll see their coloured House badge) and every week they compete in challenges, while also earning points through:

• Great service
• Teamwork
• Cleanliness & presentation
• Selling specials
• Helping other departments

👉 At the end, one team is crowned House Cup Champions

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🍻 WHY WE’RE DOING IT

Simple — to make your experience better.

This comp is designed to:

• Lift energy across the venue
• Get staff working together across all areas
• Improve speed, communication, and service
• Create a fun, competitive atmosphere

You’ll notice:

• More engagement from staff
• Better attention to detail
• Teams taking pride in their sections

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🎖️ WHAT THE BADGES MEAN

• Each staff member wears a coloured badge showing their team
• House Captains lead each group
• Points are tracked weekly
• Teams are constantly trying to outdo each other

👉 Feel free to ask your server what team they’re in — and who’s winning 👀

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🍻 WEEK 1 CHALLENGE – POURING COMP

We kicked things off with a beer pouring challenge across three rounds:

• Standard Pour (precision)
• Speed Round (controlled chaos 😅)
• Blindfolded Challenge (teamwork under pressure)

Plenty of laughs, a few spills… and even a disqualification (unlucky Kane 😂)

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📊 WEEK 1 LEADERBOARD

🥇 🔵 The Corner – 174 pts
🥈 🟡Young & Jackson – 122 pts
🥉 🔴 The Espy – 83 pts
4️⃣ 🟢 The Tote – 50 pts

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🔥 FINAL WORD

We’re one week in… and this comp is wide open.

👉 Next time you’re in:

• Look for the badge colours
• Ask what team they’re in
• See who’s leading

Most importantly — enjoy the atmosphere.

Week 2 starts now 👀

From our weekly meat tray raffles, to the auction of a pink football signed by the 2025 Collingwood Football team and donating $1 from every Strawberry Jam Sour cocktail of the month, we’re incredibly proud to announce that we’ve raised $16,852 for Pinking Up Warrandyte.

The funds raised go directly to the McGrath Foundation, helping place specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia. These nurses provide free physical, psychological, and emotional support to individuals and families experiencing breast cancer — both women and men — from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

We’re so proud of our local community, our team, and everyone who contributed to this amazing cause. Together, we’ve made a real difference. 💖

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and support throughout October! 💓

This October, The Grand Hotel Warrandyte is proudly supporting Pinking Up Warrandyte to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation, helping place breast care nurses across Australia.

We kicked off the month with a very special auction — a pink football signed by the entire Mighty Collingwood Football Club (Go Pies! 🖤🤍). The auction was hosted by Nicole Werner MP for Warrandyte right here at The Grand, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised a massive $1,300!

But we’re not stopping there…

We’re donating $1 from every Strawberry Jam Sour cocktail sold throughout October — so every sip helps support a great cause.

And we’re keeping the momentum going with our Friday Night Meat Raffle, where proceeds will also contribute to the McGrath Foundation. It’s a fun way to get involved, win some great prizes, and give back.

There are still plenty of opportunities to come down, enjoy a drink, grab a raffle ticket, and support this amazing initiative. Let’s keep pinking up Warrandyte and show what our community is made of 💗

Every Friday night at The Grand, our legendary meat tray raffle brought the community together — and this time, it was for a cause that hits close to home.

We’re proud to have supported RULE Prostate Cancer’s Protect a Legend Appeal, raising $4,968 to help fund vital research, early detection, and patient care for the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men.

Why It Matters:
1 in 5 Aussie men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early detection saves lives — and your support helps make that possible.

From raffle tickets to every Parma Special sold in August, your contributions made a real impact. Whether you joined us for the raffle, a meal, or just a cold one — thank you for helping protect the legends in our lives.

Why It Matters:

• 1 in 5 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Early detection saves lives — and your support helps make that possible.

Every Friday night at The Grand, we’re bringing the community together with our legendary meat tray raffle — and now, we’re doing it for a cause that hits close to home.

We’re proud to support RULE Prostate Cancer’s Protect a Legend Appeal, helping fund vital research and patient care to fight the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Aussie men.

About RULE Prostate Cancer:

RULE is an Australian organisation dedicated to saving men’s lives by funding early detection, treatment, and research into prostate cancer. Their Protect a Legend Appeal brings communities together to raise awareness and support for the men in our lives — our dads, brothers, mates, and regulars — who are affected by this disease.

Every dollar raised helps RULE provide world-class care and support, and contributes to research that could save thousands of lives.

 How You Can Help:

• Join us every Friday night
• Buy a ticket to win a premium meat tray
• Enjoy a meal and a drink with mates
• PLUS — for every Parma Special sold in August, The Grand will donate $2 to RULE Prostate Cancer
• Click her to donate

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Whether you’re here for the raffle, the atmosphere, or just a cold one — you’re helping protect the legends in our lives.

Thanks for the support!

OKTOBERFEST AT THE GRAND – 2025

Oktoberfest is back at The Grand — and this year, we’re celebrating all week long.

🗓️ Monday 29th September – Sunday 5th October
Join us for a week of German-inspired food specials, traditional beers, and festive vibes throughout the venue.

🎺 Live Oompah Band – Sunday 5th October
Wrap up the week with a bang as our Oompah band brings the energy to the Beer Garden on Sunday!

🎁 Prizes & Giveaways All Week
We’ll be running fun competitions and giveaways throughout the week — so come down, get involved, and you might just walk away with something special!

🍻 No tickets required — just grab a table, enjoy the atmosphere, and celebrate Oktoberfest your way Secure your table here

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Don’t miss out on this epic celebration of German culture, beer, and music! Prost! 🍻