Extinction Rebellion protesters hold up AFL grand final parade
The AFL grand final parade was disrupted by climate protesters after more than 100,000 people packed the streets.
Climate protesters have briefly disrupted the AFL grand final parade before being dragged away by security guards.
Three Extinction Rebellion protesters leapt the barriers before sitting down in the path of a ute carrying the premiership cup along the parade route in Melbourne on Friday.
The protesters wore T-shirts sporting the slogan “can’t play footy in 50 degrees”.
One woman attempted to glue herself to the road, Victoria Police confirmed to NCA NewsWire.
After a few minutes, security guards managed to drag the protesters away to loud cheers from the thousands of Collingwood and Brisbane supporters lining the street.
Investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made, according to police.
The parade, which takes place on a public holiday in Victoria, resumed and finished without further incident.
There was a massive turnout for the iconic event, with more than 100,000 people estimated to have packed the Melbourne streets
A warm spring day gave adoring fans of Collingwood and Brisbane the perfect chance to take a last glimpse of their heroes before Saturday’s grand final.
“It’s Brisbane weather mate – beautiful one day, perfect the next,” one Lions fan told the Herald Sun after making the long trip south from Queensland.
Players from both teams were driven along the parade route in central Melbourne on the back of utes.
Family activities and musical performances were also included in the day.
A tradition since 1977, the parade ended in farce last year when boats carrying players along the Yarra river were forced to turn back early.
This year’s event has returned to the more conventional land route to a rapturous reception from fans.
“We were so close, it was awesome,” Pies fan Shaun Leeming told the Herald Sun.
This year will mark Collingwood’s first shot at a flag since a heartbreaking five-point loss to the West Coast Eagles in 2018.
Brisbane will be appearing in their first grand final in nearly two decades, having last played in the big one in a 2004 loss to Port Adelaide after winning three in a row from 2001-2003.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was spotted during the event cosying up to outgoing AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.
Rock legends Kiss also made an appearance ahead of what should be a dynamite pre-match performance on Saturday.
“We’re gonna blow the roof off of everything,” veteran rocker Gene Simmons told Sunrise.
“This is an education for us,” frontman Paul Stanley added.
“We thought we were done in Australia and to be able to come back one more time is humbling for us because this really feels like a second home for us.”
Saturday’s grand final is tipped to be a classic between the two best teams in the competition.
Tickets are extremely hot property, with even standing tickets reportedly going for up to $1500 online despite Victoria’s tough anti-scalping laws.
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Thousands of frustrated Collingwood fans slammed the ballot process after missing out on tickets earlier in the week.
About 100,00 people are expected to pack the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Saturday’s game.
First bounce is scheduled for 2.30pm.
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