AFL becomes a laughing stock for grand final parade disaster

The AFL has been torched by angry fans and commentators after the grand final parade reached a new low on Friday.

An electric atmosphere. Picture: Mark Stewart.

The AFL has become a laughing stock as the annual grand final parade reached a new low on Friday in Melbourne.

The spectacle was moved from Melbourne’s CBD to the banks of the Yarra River and the Yarra Park Precinct, giving fans a chance to wave to players as they floated down the famously muddy river on barges.

The idea — that first emerged during Melbourne’s Covid-19 lockdowns — fell spectacularly flat on Friday with fans complaining about how far away the players were from where thousands were gathered on the banks of the river.

Geelong’s Joel Selwood and Chris Scott during todays parade. Picture by Michael Klein

Fans were not front and centre. Picture: Mark Stewart

The parade returned to Melbourne for the first time in three years before Saturday’s grand final between Geelong and Sydney after the 2020 Grand Final was moved to the Gabba in Brisbane and the 2021 Grand Final was moved to Perth.

The parade usually moves through Melbourne’s bustling streets with players on the back of utes, but there was a much more dispiriting site that greeted fans on Friday.

Sunday Footy Show host Tony Jones was among the first to slam the concept and its execution.

The Sydney Swans squint at the fans. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Players and fans make their way to the MCG during the 2022 AFL Grand Final Parade. Picture: Mark Stewart

He told 3AW it was a “disaster”.

“I would put this in the same category as Meat Loaf, AFLX and the Batmobile,” he said.

“In 10 years’ time we’ll be looking at pictures of this and using it as a punchline.”

Many other commentators predicted the parade won’t be returning to the Yarra River any time soon.

23/09/22 Crowds gather on the Yarra. Aaron Francis / Herald Sun

Swans players wave to fans. Aaron Francis / Herald Sun

RSN Breakfast host Adam White posted on Twitter: “The key component of the AFL Grand Final Parade is for the fans to get up close and personal with the players. The idea of requiring binoculars to find your hero from a riverbank isn’t ideal”.

Personally, I think the contrived Yarra GF ‘parade’ was a stupid AFL decision. Removes the players from the fans.

— Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) September 23, 2022

gutted I missed that one time they tried an AFL Grand Final parade on the Yarra

— Michael Bodey (@michaelbodey) September 23, 2022

The #AFL Grand Final parade down the Yarra River will be remembered like this in the future. pic.twitter.com/kO5dBRIJsJ

— Aussie Boxing Scribe (@el_pollo_loco) September 23, 2022

For the umpteenth year in a row - husband sees the AFL Grand Final parade and declares "Melbourne people are CRAZY! Can you imagine if they tried this for League? "

— Wendy Harmer (@wendy_harmer) September 23, 2022

Fair to say the early stages of the @afl GF parade is underwhelming #AFLFinals#AFLGF

— Tom Wildie (@tomwildie) September 23, 2022

Many fans also complained the players did not complete the full route advertised with some fans barely able to see them before the barges turned back the other way.

Mixed reviews of Grand Final river parade.The vessels turned earlier than advertised so many were angry because they waited for hours and only got a distant glimpse of players. Many also said it was too quick. But for others the extra space made it family friendly. 6pm #7NewsMelb

— NickMcCallum7 (@NickMcCallum7) September 23, 2022

The #AFL Grand Final parade down the Yarra River will be remembered like this in the future. pic.twitter.com/kO5dBRIJsJ

— Aussie Boxing Scribe (@el_pollo_loco) September 23, 2022