AFL: Shock changes considered for grand final parade

An idea to send AFL stars on boats down the Yarra for this year’s grand final parade has divided players. See the latest and have your say.

Epic, quirky, extravagant, strange or a bit too far?

The AFL’s plan to float this year’s grand finalists on boats down the Yarra River as part of the grand final parade has given players something to think about.

The public holiday parade will be back on Melbourne streets this September – with the AFL exploring the idea of adding a boat cruise down the Yarra River to the celebration.

Tom Lynch, who was part of the 2019 and 2020 parades before winning premierships the next day, was supportive of the new concept.

“I’d love to be floating down the yarra if it means we’re in the grand final,” Lynch said.

“I don’t care where the parade is, as long as we’re in it. Obviously, the AFL is trying to bring people back into the city for the day and build that excitement.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of the grand final parade in 2019 and it was an amazing experience. To have all the fans out was a great buzz.”

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Giants defender Nick Haynes, who experienced the parade three years ago, said it would bring a Moomba-like feel to the grand final celebrations.

“I think a boat would look pretty cool and be something different, and the Yarra is a nice little platform to watch,” Nick Haynes said.

“I remember going to Moomba back in the day with the boat show, so a nice, grassy hill for the supporters to watch from would be a good spectacle, so I’d be all for a little boat tour before it.

“Having experienced it back in 2019, it’s a great tradition we have in Melbourne. For the whole of Melbourne to have a day off as a public holiday is massive and getting the crowds there, so anything to make it more extravagant and good for the fans is a positive.

Carlton’s Matt Kennedy said: “I’d just like to make it, so it wouldn’t worry me. But probably boats are a bit too far – just stick to the car, I reckon. I’m a traditionalist.”

Adelaide’s Brodie Smith said it was a “strange one”.

“ … If you’ve got to play in a grand final, if that’s going to faze you too much going down the Yarra, the day before. It’s an interesting one, but I do quite like the parade at the moment,” Smith said.

“The guys get to sit in the ute and whatnot and just embrace all the fans that came to support you and all season. It’s a quirky idea.”

Sydney ruck Peter Ladhams said it “sounds pretty cool, actually.”

“I wouldn’t mind that. That would be epic, let’s run with that,” Ladhams said.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan was tight-lipped on the boat idea on Thursday.

“That Friday before the grand final, whether we’re going down the river (or not), there will be a parade, there will be a footy festival here in Yarra Park starting on the Wednesday and there’s going to be four women’s games going on that afternoon,” he said.

The traditional grand final parade could look a little different in 2022. Picture: AAP

The popular parade is back for the first time in two years after being put on ice during the past two Covid-affected seasons where the premiership was decided in Brisbane and Perth.

But with the Grand Final back in Melbourne at the home of football, the league plans to celebrate in style on the public holiday the day before the game’s biggest match.

The parade has historically seen the grand finalists ride in the back of utes through Melbourne’s CBD before more recently arriving to waiting fans at Yarra Park outside the MCG.

It’s believed the league is considering a hybrid parade, featuring the boat ride and the traditional ute.

Players could ride in boats down the Yarra, floating past fans with a potential loop between the Princes Bridge near the Art Centre and Swan Street Bridge near Rod Laver Arena.

The players could then exit the river at Birrarung Marr and take the traditional ute ride to the MCG before being presented to fans at Yarra Park outside the stadium.

Magpies Jordan de Goey and Brayden Maynard in the 2018 grand final parade. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

AFLW star Darcy Vescio backed calls for the AFL grand final parade to be staged on the Yarra River.

“I’m all for it. I’d be on that float, I’d be working that float,” they said on Thursday.

“I’d jump in a canoe, whatever it takes.”

Vescio said the changed format could be a good way to entice more fans to get behind the annual September tradition.

“I think anything that gets more fans involved (is a good thing),” they added.

“I think we’ve all missed being able to get out into the community and be part of those big events together.

“(So) if a float down the Yarra is a Covid safe way of doing things, I think why not.”

Government Minister Natalie Hutchins also supported the call.

“That would be pretty cool,” she laughed.

“I’m not sure practically how that would happen, but I’m sure Victorians would be open to it.”

Grand final eve will also feature four AFLW games in Melbourne, including two games at Richmond’s Punt Road Oval and Collingwood v Essendon at Olympic Park.

Originally published as AFL: Shock changes considered for grand final parade