AFL grand final parade 2023: All the photos, videos and action as Collingwood and Brisbane hit the streets
The perfect grand final prelude proved the AFL is capable of learning from its mistakes after last year’s grand final parade tugboat shambles. See all the pictures, videos and stories.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The AFL’s Midas touch this golden football season even extends to resuscitating events it had done its best to sabotage only 12 months ago.
On Friday as over 100,000 fans poured into Melbourne’s heart on a glorious spring day for the perfect prelude to the 2023 grand final, it was obvious the AFL had learnt from its mistakes.
Last year the AFL took a popular tradition – a simple motorcade through the streets of the CBD – and burnt it to the ground with its ill-conceived tugboat shambles.
Two groups of grand final participants dragged along the Yarra on barges looking like stunned mullets unable to engage with the fans on the distant shores.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE PARADE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Thankfully, the AFL ripped up those plans, made use of the best of Melbourne’s fabulous inner-city sporting precinct, and got blessed with a cracker of a spring day.
The result was wonderful – two sporting tribes able to see their heroes up close and personal, even if one of those armies was woefully outnumbered.
The old route starting at parliament house did allow a spectacular image as the two captains held aloft the premiership cup at the start of the parade with Bourke St as their backdrop.
This year, by happy coincidence, the Collingwood fans who had turned up in their droves for the captain’s run had only to cross Olympic Boulevard to watch the parade kicking off on the adjoining Melbourne Park Oval.
The fans weren’t exactly packed 10 deep at the start of the parade, but had enough time to saunter over the railway lines to the MCG before the players were presented on stage in Yarra Park.
Especially given a momentary delay as a trio of climate protesters held up the procession of Toyota Hiluxes – their cause reinforced by the unseasonal temperatures in late September.
By the time Darcy Moore had roused the fans into a frenzy, the chants of “Collingwooood” had started and the fans were positively amped up.
“We think the atmosphere you bring is going to bring the best out of us. We can’t wait to put on a show,” Moore exhorted.
The fans in all their Collingwood finery showed their love of this club across the generations with their beaming smiles and their various sponsors logos across their black and white jumpers.
There were jumpers with Emirates, Wizard, the Transport Accident Commission, ISC and Spicers Paper.
There were Darren Millane tribute T-shirts and toddlers decked head to toe in every form of Collingwood merchandise possible.
The smattering of Brisbane fans were outnumbered in another taste of what we will see on Saturday as the Lions attempt to silence the baying crowds.
Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor might have the impossible job of stopping Charlie Cameron on Saturday, but as a pre-contest warm-up couldn’t have hoped for more.
“Beautiful weather, vibes are up. I’m not really much of a water operator, so I’m actually pretty happy with it (being back on land), to be honest. This is unbelievable. There’s not a breath of wind, either, it’s picture-perfect. It’s like it’s scripted.”
So, order restored for a grand old tradition – like the Mike Brady medley of classics that finished the parade, some things just don’t need tinkering with.
‘Take your shirt off, Dev!’
– Josh Barnes
It has been a long way from the quietest of debuts to star status for Deven Robertson as the fan favourite continues to be inundated with requests to show off his famous rig.
The young Lion became Insta-famous earlier this year when his jumper was ripped off during a game against Collingwood and he said he couldn’t count the requests for him to show a bit of skin during Friday’s grand final parade.
“Me and Cal (Ah Chee) tried counting how many times we heard the comment about my shirt, we gave up at about 50 two minutes in,” he said.
Robertson, 22, exploded on social media after the jumper incident, soaring to more than 90,000 followers.
It is a far cry from his debut in round 1, 2020 which was one of the first games played at the MCG in front of no fans due to Covid.
On Friday morning, nearly 10,000 Lions fans packed in the ’G to watch the team go through its captain’s run before the grand final.
“There was a lot more there than my debut, I debuted there in front of zero (fans) in the Covid year but there was definitely a really good turnout for the captain’s run,” he said.
"Who's going to win tomorrow?"
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 29, 2023
"Daddy!"
Steele Sidebottom's daughter is a star already! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/p5fV01A3bW
‘It’s Brisbane weather’ as water sells out
– Jordan McCarthy
Shade was a hot commodity at the Footy Festival following the parade with some food vans already selling out of water.
Ian Edmonson was lapping it up after making the trip from Queensland as Victorians wilted around him.
“It’s Brisbane weather mate,” he said. “Beautiful one day, perfect the next.”
Edmonson was confident with the conditions and recent form that Brisbane would prevail tomorrow.
“We have beaten them the last six times and twice this year,” he said.
Lions supporter Rod Hewins, who made the trip down from Queensland, was enjoying his first Grand Final parade and said he was expecting a nailbiter tomorrow.
“I think it’s a coin flip,” he said. “We brought our weather with us, but they have the crowd support, so that balances out a little bit I think.”
Nick Rowen and his partner also made the trip down and were “soaking in the atmosphere” at the parade.
The couple may have a tough trip home if Brisbane get over the line tomorrow.
“We will party hard and hopefully be celebrating Saturday night,” he said. “Party all the way through because we fly at 4.30am Sunday, back to the Sunshine Coast.”
Collingwood supporter Max Fraser was also expecting a tight one with both teams carrying a bit of a hoodoo into the game.
“We don’t have a great grand final history,” he said. “But Brisbane don’t have a great record at the ’G.”
Lions to zone in on key Magpies pair
The Brisbane Lions wingers have put high importance on taking out Collingwood pair Steele Sidebottom and Josh Daicos, as the Lions expect no issues with the wide expanses of the MCG.
All-Australian Daicos and savvy veteran Sidebottom have been crucial components to Collingwood’s attack this year, with both preferring to keep their width on the wings.
The Magpies midfielders look to the pair whenever possible given their shrewd ball use, and Lions wing Jarrod Berry said he had spent plenty of time studying the pair before Saturday’s decider.
“They obviously play their system really well and they are really important … so we need to nullify their influence,” he said.
Berry said he was confident the big size of the MCG wouldn’t hurt Brisbane and he sought the advice of Lions assistant and former Melbourne star Cameron Bruce this week to adjust.
”Cam Bruce always tells me if you work hard on the MCG you get the rewards so that is what I am hoping to do,” Berry said.
Berry will likely not be joined in the wing rotation by Hugh McCluggage, with the star onballer thrust into an inside role in the last month of the season after young gun Will Ashcroft injured his knee.
“We were so disappointed to see ‘Ashy’ go down, he started (his career) brilliantly,” McCluggage said.
“With ‘Ashy’ going down we lost a bit of our first possession power around the clearance so I have been trying to help Lachie (Neale) out a bit more and its something I am trying to develop.”
Zorko pays tribute to fellow Lions veteran
Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko has paid tribute to long-time teammate Daniel Rich as the pair shared a car during Friday’s grand final parade.
Zorko and Rich sat together with their children during the parade, with Rich set to watch the grand final from the stands after announcing his retirement late in the home-and-away season.
Rich played 275 games for the Lions but fell out of the side and dealt with hamstring issues this year and was not named in the squad for Saturday’s grand final.
But Zorko said sharing the car with his good mate would be a memory that would stick with them both forever.
“Obviously really disappointed that Richy is not in the team this week,” Zorko said.
“He has had a fantastic career and the one thing he has brought to the group in the last six weeks since he made his announcement, is like normal he has always been there and supporting everyone.
“He has done that for his whole career and the fact he can be in the car with me today is unbelievable and a memory that both our families won’t forget.”
Rich will be joined in the stands by ex-Hawk Jack Gunston, who couldn’t break into the Brisbane side either for the season decider.
Zorko will play his 250th match in the grand final and is uncontracted next year but has no plans to retire, no matter the result.
A lovely moment between Lions great Alastair Lynch and Dayne Zorko ahead of his 250th game. pic.twitter.com/V5fPgaO2qZ
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 29, 2023
Protesters stop parade briefly
– Brooke Grebert-Craig
The parade was temporarily halted due to an unruly Extinction Rebellion protester.
A woman attempted to glue herself onto the road, blocking the path of the vehicle carrying the premiership cup.
It’s understood the climate activist was wearing a T-shirt that read: “Climate breakdown has begun” and “Can’t play footy in 50 degree heat”.
The woman was removed by security with Victoria Police confirming they were investigating the incident.
‘Unbelievable’ moment as Pies, Lions hit the streets
– Brooke Grebert-Craig
The Grand Final Parade has returned to its traditional roots of the city streets after last year’s Yarra River disaster.
Tens of thousands of dedicated footy fans flocked to Melbourne’s sporting precinct to cheer on their favourite Collingwood and Brisbane players on Friday.
Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko, with his kids by his side, described the reception from the fans as “unbelievable”.
The ceremony started at Melbourne Park with both teams travelling by car through Birrarung Marr to Yarra Park.
Supporters welcomed the new path after fans felt they were too far away from the action when Geelong and Sydney teams travelled by boat along the river in 2022.
Hundreds of punters walked away feeling angry and underwhelmed, calling it “stupid” and a “failure”.
But this year, spirits were high.
“We were so close, it was awesome,” Pies fan Shaun Leeming said.
“With it so spread out, there’s more room, normally you are like six or seven rows back but this was a lot better.
“We were able to see everyone go past.”
Die-hard Brisbane supporter Annette Anderson said it was good to be “up close and personal” at the parade.
“I heard it was awful last year, it was so much better this year,” she said.
“For people like me who can’t go to the game, you can get up close and personal.”
Not on live TV Charlie, please!!
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 29, 2023
😬🦷😬🦷😬🦷 pic.twitter.com/1b0xDHNQLl
Lions fan Paul Cobden said he was excited to go to his first parade.
“It’s my first one and I’m loving it,” he said.
“I think Brisbane has a fair chance of winning, Collingwood is a great team but I wouldn’t be surprised which either way it went.”
Mr Cobden said his family were all Fitzroy fans.
“My family were all Fitzroy supporters so we use to go to all the Fitzroy matches years ago,” he said.
“We had no choice but to go for Brisbane, which we are happy about.”
Dicko holding on for dear life as he tries to keep up with Billy Frampton 😂
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 29, 2023
The feel good story of the Grand Final feeling 'lucky' to have received the call up 🙠pic.twitter.com/wWtNQwOdJ2
Magpie army turns out for captain’s run
– Chris Cavanagh
Thousands of members of the black and white army have turned out for Collingwood’s final training session before Saturday’s Grand Final.
The Magpies’ starting 22 and four emergencies all got out on the track for a captain’s run on Friday morning.
Players emerged at Olympic Park shortly after 9am and spent 30 minutes on the track, completing some light drills.
Collingwood chants rang out around the ground during the session, while coach Craig McRae revved up the crowd as he clapped at them to thank them for their support of the side.
Captain Darcy Moore received the biggest cheer when he came out onto the track.
Jack Ginnivan was all smiles after being named in the starting side on Thursday night and briefly signed some autographs after the session before heading back inside.
Midfielder-forward Patrick Lipinski was part of the group of emergencies to train, having been confirmed as Collingwood’s starting substitute on Thursday night.
Finals hardluck story John Noble was also part of the group of emergencies, along with Finlay Macrae and Harvey Harrison.
#AFLGF EVE ðŸ˜@chriscavanagh1 was out at Collingwood's captain's run this morning pic.twitter.com/jhiD2579F8
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 28, 2023
The Lions have arrived
– Callum Dick
Brisbane hit the hallowed MCG turf on Friday morning for a captain’s run unlike any other.
Thousands of fans piled into the Ponsford Stand to serenade their heroes with a rousing rendition of Country Roads, signalling the Lions’ arrival on the grand final stage – and perhaps a preview of things to come.
The Gabba’s greatest show has hit the road.
Coach Chris Fagan drew the loudest cheer when he emerged from the race to place cones for the Lions’ final training run before a date with destiny on Saturday.
Jack Payne hit the track but trained in a tracksuit – his grand final dream dashed a day earlier when Fagan preferred preliminary final hero Darcy Gardiner for the decider.
The Lions are at the 'G - and so is Country Roads. #AFLGF
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 29, 2023
📽ï¸: @CallumjDickpic.twitter.com/igHueUDBDS
Payne looms as Brisbane’s grand final hard luck story after an ankle injury held over from the qualifying final win over Port Adelaide derailed the key defender’s breakout campaign at its highest point.
Lincoln McCarthy ran freely and had shed the calf sock that caused concerns earlier in the week when spotted at training.
Retiring great Daniel Rich saluted for what will likely be his final training session for the club.
And in one of his final acts as a Lion could be seen offering advice to young defender Darcy Wilmot as he prepares to play for a premiership in just his 29th AFL start.
If the Lions were nervous, they didn’t show it.
Charlie Cameron sent drop goal bombs from outside 50 that sailed through to roars of approval from fans behind the goals.
Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews led the team to the boundary for a final send off to the faithful.
The next time the Lions stand on the MCG turf it will be in front of 100,000 fans.
Tiger delight as North pays heavy price for final draft night pick
On a night where little caused a surprise, North Melbourne waited until the last moment to pull a stunner, paying a significant price and taking an even more significant risk.
Draft drama explodes with pick loophole
The No. 1 pick has been named at the AFL Draft but fans are furious at the system that allowed the reigning premiers to get an absolute steal.