Fans pack Melbourne streets to see Grand Final parade ahead of Saturday’s decider

THOUSANDS of footy fans cheered on their heroes during the Grand Final parade. We spoke to all 44 players ahead of Saturday’s decider. PARADE RE-CAP

AN estimated 140,000 fans have flocked to cheer their heroes in Friday’s Grand Final parade.

The Tiger Army and the hordes of Adelaide fans that have invaded Victoria packed Spring Street and the MCG precinct before the Grand Final captains lifting the premiership cup to huge cheers. See what every Grand Final player said ahead of the big dance and re-cap all the action and colour from the parade and Richmond’s final training session below. LIVE BLOG: ALL THE GRAND FINAL ACTION AND REACTION BAD MEMORIES: 10 TALES OF TIGER HEARTACHE DAVID KING: CAN TIGERS WIN WITHOUT DUSTY BEING DUSTY? MATTHEW LLOYD: THE TWO PLAYERS TIGERS MUST STOP ADELAIDE RORY LAIRD: “I’m very excited. There are a few nerves that come with it, but this stuff is pretty cool, so just trying to embrace it. It’s an exciting time.” KYLE HARTIGAN: “There were times this year when I was out injured and thinking I might not get back into the side, but I guess I timed my run at the right time. The hamstring’s held up really well and it’s just great to be a part of the team this weekend.’’ JAKE LEVER: “I’ll relax all afternoon and when it’s about 2pm tomorrow I’ll get a bit more excited. Once it’s half-an-hour away from the game is when I’ll start to focus and really get things going.” PAUL SEEDSMAN: “Obviously I’m looking forward to it. It’s a bit different with the parade now, but when we get back to the hotel it will be normal again.” DANIEL TALIA: “We’re over here to do a job. We are here to win the game, so we’ll stay relaxed, enjoy the build-up and then be ready to go on game day.’’ LUKE BROWN: “It’s exciting to actually play the game tomorrow — it’s been a long week and long build up and we’re just looking forward to getting out there.” DAVID MACKAY: “I’ve been striving for this moment, this opportunity, for 11 years since I arrived at the club. At 2pm (tomorrow) the ball will be bounced and it will just be another game of footy but we’ve had a great preparation and are ready to go.’ RORY SLOANE: “I can’t wait for it to get under way. I know we’ve got a stack of people who have come over from South Australia and we have great support here.” RORY ATKINS: “Growing up in Melbourne I went to a few of these and it’s just a surreal feeling to be the one sitting in the back of a ute for a change.” CHARLIE CAMERON: “We’ve just got to make the most of it and enjoy it. It looks pretty good, the crowd, so hopefully there will also be a good turnout tomorrow arvo.” JOSH JENKINS: “We’ve been so resilient, everyone knows what we’ve been through. The players love each other and we couldn’t be better placed to win.’’ EDDIE BETTS: “I’ve actually got a few butterflies in my tummy. You would think it would all be black and yellow but it’s not, there’s plenty of Crows colours out there, it’s 50-50 I think, which is awesome.” TOM LYNCH: “We’ve certainly grown a lot of belief in the past couple of years. Now it’s a 50-50 contest and if we play our best we give ourselves a good opportunity to win.’’ TAYLOR WALKER: “I have so much trust and belief (in teammates) and so proud at where we’ve got to today as a whole footy club. He (Alex Rance) is a great defender and I’m looking forward to the challenge.” RICHARD DOUGLAS: “It was good to get on the ’G this morning and blow the cobwebs out. It’s good to sit back now for a little bit and soak it up and look forward to what’s to come on Saturday afternoon.” SAM JACOBS: “It’s been a great build up in Adelaide but there is nothing better than getting to Melbourne and being a part of Grand Final week. Being a young country boy never in your wildest dreams did you think you’d be there, so it’s important to soak it up but make sure we’ve still got a job to do tomorrow.” Crows have their final say BRAD CROUCH: “I think back a couple of years ago when my body wasn’t right and at that stage I didn’t think I’d ever get to this position. I’m just really happy and ready.” MATT CROUCH: “It’s been a huge week but we’ve embraced it and loved it. We’ve taken it in our stride.’’ RILEY KNIGHT: “It’s a long way from the South Clare Oval back in the country, mate. It’s amazing. We’re all feeling pretty good, pretty comfortable.” JAKE KELLY: “I’ll relax all afternoon, chill out and watch a movie or something. I’ll probably send dad a text but won’t speak about football or anything, it will just be normal.” HUGH GREENWOOD: “It’s pretty surreal, two years ago I was getting ready for my first NBL game and now here we are in the back of a truck for an AFL Grand Final parade. I’m very thankful to be here and excited.” ANDY OTTEN: “When that bounce goes I’m just going to try to play my role up forward. I don’t need to do anything special or different. I’m in this team to be a forward target and put pressure on and that’s all I’m going to do.’’ RICHMOND BRANDON ELLIS: “Bloody excited and a bit overwhelmed at the moment. You grow up as a kid with this your dream and so I’m living my dream at the moment. It doesn’t feel like it all ends tomorrow.” ALEX RANCE: “It’s a good sense of calm. I can actually enjoy it and not be clouded by nerves and I’m excited to see everyone else’s excitement. For us I think it starts with pressure on the ball.” DYLAN GRIMES: “We are a pretty balanced back six but it’s a matter of going back to basic footy. Grand Finals can be hot and teams can overuse it so I want to play a simple brand of defence-first footy.” BACHAR HOULI: “Very few people get this opportunity and, to be honest, I didn’t think I was going to get here. But in the last few years I thought an opportunity might come our way, thankfully it has before I finish playing.” DAVID ASTBURY: “Their entire front half is something we will pay enormous respect to. We are looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait for the occasion.” NICK VLASTUIN: “This time last year I’d already been in America for three weeks and was about to go to Indonesia for the next two. I definitely didn’t think I’d be here this year, but 12 months is a long time in footy.” KAMDYN McINTOSH: “It’s pretty unreal considering I used to come to these things as a kid. Dad used to take us over to watch the Grand Final and now to be in a parade and in a Grand Final, it’s amazing.” TRENT COTCHIN: “I don’t think it’s surreal. We’ve worked hard for the opportunity to play. We’ve learned a lot ... we think there’s a lot of pieces to the puzzle that hold us in good stead.” Tigers have their final say JACOB TOWNSEND: “I was playing VFL all year and now I’m in an AFL Grand Final. I told myself that (AFL) is the same game and transferred my form and that’s had a good outcome.” KANE LAMBERT: “They are a well-oiled machine and we’re going to have to be 100 per cent on if we are going to get a result.” DUSTIN MARTIN: “The club had a bit of a refresh over the summer, we got some new people in and everyone was just hungry to get better and obviously it’s paid off.” JOSH CADDY: “Dimma’s backed me in all year and he’s a great coach and I’m so proud to be playing under him. I’m happier for him than anyone that we’ve made it to where we are.” DAN BUTLER: “I think all of us young forwards are pretty ready for it. We think we can take it up to them.” JACK RIEWOLDT: “They’re the best side in the competition, they have been all year, so it’s going to take a really great team effort from all of our guys. But we feel we’ve got that in us.” DANIEL RIOLI: “You always want to play in a Grand Final as a kid. I get that opportunity.” TOBY NANKERVIS: “I definitely think I’m a better ruckman now than back in Round 6 (v Adelaide) and we’re playing completely different footy as a team.” DION PRESTIA: “I was always very confident we would play finals. We looked at their (Tigers) list and were confident they could challenge for finals and premierships.” SHAUN GRIGG: “I haven’t played much ruck in my life, but I’ve had good fun doing it this year and, more importantly, it’s been good to give ‘Nank’ (ruckman Toby Nankervis) a bit of a chop out.” SHANE EDWARDS: “It’s been a long time coming and you start to think it might never happen. But now we have four more quarters left.” NATHAN BROAD: “This beats plumbing, that’s for sure. It’s a crazy lifestyle and obviously this week is just unbelievable. I’m just soaking it up. It beats being on the tools.” JACK GRAHAM: “People have gone 300 games without playing a final, so I’m very lucky and fortunate. But a lot of hard work has gone into that as well.” JASON CASTAGNA: “My role is just to put some pressure on, help the boys up the field and hopefully kick a few snags.”

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