AFL Grand Final Parade: All the action and colour as Brisbane and Sydney hit the streets of Melbourne
Stand-in Sydney captain Dane Rampe has revealed he ‘had a cry’ with Callum Mills after his great mate was ruled out of the AFL Grand Final. Watch all the parade highlights here.
Happy Grand Final eve!
Before all eyes turn to the MCG on Saturday afternoon, it’s time for the traditional grand final parade.
Recap all the action and colour from Friday morning below.
MCCLUGGAGE HAILS COTCHIN’S INFLUENCE
— Josh Barnes
Brisbane Lions prime mover Hugh McCluggage has revealed Richmond great Trent Cotchin has helped him put more faith in the Lions cubs that have delivered so far this September.
Brisbane will hit the grand final against Sydney with five players - Logan Morris, Darcy Wilmot, Jaspa Fletcher, Will Ashcroft and Kai Lohmann - aged 21 or under.
Each have played important roles throughout this season, with Ashcroft vital in a semi-final comeback against GWS and Lohmann a spark in a preliminary final win over Geelong.
McCluggage said he had spent time this year working with triple-premiership Tiger captain Cotchin - who has spent time in the Lions camp this year - and club psychologist Anthony Klarica to place his belief in the youngsters.
“I have done a lot of work with Cotch and Anthony Klarica as well just in trusting your teammates, trusting the work you have done up to this point,” he said.
“We as leaders and as older players, we end up putting a lot of work into these younger boys ... so we go into this (grand final) confident that we have done that work and we can trust they will do what we need them to do on game day.
“You have seen that even in the last quarters of a lot of the finals, you have had young guys step up in the finals and we have had different names who have been the ones who have stood up.”
McCluggage worked closely with Ashcroft before the father-son was even drafted.
He said that even while the young gun was “obviously a confident kid” he still needed a work of encouragement.
“Just little conversations here and there are enough for our boys to let them know that we are behind them and if they do have anything they want to ask or any concerns throughout the week they can feel comfortable coming to us,” McCluggage said.
GRAND FINAL SWEEP: DOWNLOAD YOUR POSTER HERE
FANS OUT IN FORCE TO SUPPORT LIONS, SWANS
— Fergus Ellis
Melbourne has put on a show ahead of AFL Grand Final parade, with footy fans from interstate being treated to a warm and sunny day out.
Event-goers have turned out in their thousands to watch on as the procession of Swans and Lions players crawled its way to the MCG.
The parade holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, with long-time Swans supporter Ian McDonald, 57, saying he had made the trek from Sydney many times to the Grand Final eve celebrations.
“It’s a culmination of their hard work, it’s amazing, it really is…and if we pull tomorrow off, it’ll be even better,” Mr McDonald said.
He said he would likely “in tears” if his Swans were able to claim the flag on Saturday.
Deciding to make a weekend of the festivities, Mr McDonald said he was concerned about being able to fly home, citing possible flight delays in his way back.
“I flew down yesterday and going home Monday which I’m a bit worried about,” he said.
For Brisbane Lions fan and Fitzroy loyalist Leanna Brown, the parade was one of the few times she got to see the players.
“They don’t come to Melbourne that often so we don’t get to see them much,” Ms Brown said.
She said she had travelled down from Boronia with her two daughters, Jay and Hayley, to watch the parade, her second in as many years.
Ms Brown said the event had “flown by” this year, having seemingly turned away for just a minute and missing all the players go by.
“It went a bit quick this year, last year the guys seemed to move through slower,” she said.
Hey daughter Jay said she was loving the sunny weather and wouldn’t turn down a free event.
“I’m surprised it’s so popular even though it’s two interstate teams,” she said.
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.
‘Absolute blunder’: Essendon’s ‘staggering’ draft move smashed
The Bombers had a relatively quiet trade period by their standards, with their focus on Isaac Kako. Now after securing the small forward, their method has been whacked by a draft expert.