AFL grand final parade LIVE: Fans flock to cheer Cats, Lions as they make their way to the MCG

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10.24am

Lion’s selfless call to miss grand final

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and co-captain Harris Andrews have revealed that injured midfielder Jarrod Berry ultimately took the decision on whether he should play in the grand final out of the match committee’s hands.

“For him to have that conversation with ‘Fages’ and put his hand up, it’s inspiring as well as energising because he is putting the team first,” Andrews said at Friday morning’s pre-parade press conference.

Berry dislocated his shoulder during the preliminary final and the decision was not as clear-cut as Oscar McInerney, who was ruled out before last year’s decider. “Part of him [Berry] didn’t want to let the team down by not playing, and then part of him didn’t want to let the team down by playing [in case he got injured],” Fagan said.

The coach refused to say whether Lachie Neale would start as the sub.

10.09am

Fans flock to the parade

Fans have flocked to the MCG-Melbourne precinct to cheer their heroes. Here are some of the early images ahead of the parade.

9.59am

Ashcroft’s Geelong connection

By Andrew Wu

Will Ashcroft’s shooting for a personal hat-trick on grand final day.

He experienced the big day as a fan in 2022. Though he had already committed to Brisbane as a father-son pick, the draft was still a few weeks away and Ashcroft remained a starry-eyed Geelong supporter.

His favourite player was their inspirational former captain Joel Selwood. The Ashcrofts are family friends with Geelong coach Chris Scott, a former teammate of Ashcroft’s father Marcus during their days at Brisbane.

Will Ashcroft chats with media before the grand final parade.

Ashcroft missed the Lions’ 2023 grand final defeat due to a knee injury, and marked last year’s premiership with the Norm Smith Medal.

“It’s a funny one, last grand final I went to was 2022, I’d actually signed with the Lions but I was going there as a Cats fan and to watch that,” Ashcroft said.

“I grew up a Cats fan and they have obviously been an unbelievable footy club for a very, very long time and I’d been lucky enough to be a fan and watch them through that period, so all respect for them.”

8.34am

Caro and Jake’s Norm Smith Medal tips

Last year Will Ashcroft lit up the MCG on grand final day to be crowned best on ground. Who’ll win the Norm in 2025? The voting panel is as follows:

Andrew McLeod (chair)
Luke Hodge, Channel Seven
Kate McCarthy, Triple M
Jack Riewoldt, Fox Footy
Adam Simpson, SEN

As for our experts, Jimmy Bartel has gone for Shaun Mannagh, but Patrick Dangerfield has a heap of support. Libby Birch, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Peter Ryan have all picked the Cats skipper, while Caroline Wilson tips the older Ashcroft to go back to back.

Here are all the expert tips.

8.18am

Snoop Dogg warms up with DJ set

By Karl Quinn

Having displayed his ability to cut it on the MCG turf on Tuesday by slotting a couple of goals from the boundary line, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr – indisputably better known as Snoop Dogg – turned it on upstairs on Thursday morning for the benefit of a room full of hacks.

“This sport, man, I’m just kind of loving this sport,” he said of the game that has drawn him here (well, that and the massive pay cheque – almost certainly around the $2 million mark that was reportedly shelled out for Robbie Williams and Katy Perry in recent years).

Though he’s ostensibly here for the grand final pre-match entertainment, Snoop isn’t keeping his powder entirely dry.

He launched a DJ set at the Espy in St Kilda on Thursday night, and was due for another at the city venue Ms Collins on Friday night, under his DJ Snoopadelic alias.

Read the full Snoop Dogg story here.

8.10am

Happy grand final eve

Welcome to our live coverage on AFL Grand Final Eve, as we follow the parade from Melbourne Park to the MCG where the Geelong and Brisbane teams will be presented to fans.

The weather is looking a bit dicey. The Bureau of Meteorology says cloudy, with a high chance of showers, most likely during the afternoon and evening, and a top temperature of 22. So pack a brolly or a plastic poncho if you’re heading in for the parade.

Lions Will Ashcroft and Cam Rayner and Cats Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron.

The utes will leave Melbourne Park at 10.30am, but before that we’ll hear from the captains and coaches at their formal pre-game press conference.

The presentation is scheduled for 11.30am on the main stage outside the ’G. Both teams will have a gentle captain’s run at the MCG, Geelong from 12.30pm and the Lions from 1.30pm.

There were no massive surprises at selection. Brisbane are backing in dual Brownlow Medal winner Lachie Neale, who has ticked all the boxes in his recovery from a calf strain. He’ll replace Jarrod Berry, who popped his problematic shoulder out during the preliminary final. And the Cats have recalled Rhys Stanley, who replaces Tom Stewart, who was concussed last weekend.

See who our experts are tipping for the flag and the Norm Smith Medal here.

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