CFL fans are gearing up to compete in the Gray Cup – the Canadian way.

During the 111th CFL Gray Cup game, Percy Balon will cheer on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at his local sports bar. The main difference between him and the majority of CFL fans is that he will do it on Monday at 10 a.m. (his time) in a bar in Melbourne.

“They have a good team; five years in a row, what can you say? I have a soft spot in my heart for Zach Collaros,” said Balon, who grew up in Saskatchewan but has lived in all three Prairie provinces.

Balon and the Canada Club of Victoria were able to convince the King Hotel, located in the city’s central business district, to broadcast the Gray Cup again this year.

“I taught them how to make Caesars last year,” he said.

Watching the match live was not possible twenty years ago when Balon first moved to Australia. He and another Canadian were looking forward to watching the Gray Cup – a familiar thrill for both prairie men.

“In the name of the club we organized something,” Balon said. “His dad sent us a DVD of the game, and then we hoped and prayed it would arrive in time…luckily it did.”

This Saturday afternoon, more than 150 people were present.

“It was great. It was way more than we expected,” Balon said.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders fan expects 20 people to join him this year at the King Hotel, many of them wearing their own CFL jerseys.

“It’s a lot smaller, but it’s a lot of fun.” Something to look forward to,” he said.

Balon said he hopes to teach more Australians about Canadian football, known simply as “gridiron.”