→
The threat of rain did little to deter footy fans from swarming Melbourne Park, as the AFL Grand Final parade rolled past the MCG.
asserted
parade → do → MCG
There was a festive atmosphere as Brisbane and Fremantle players smiled and waved at the gathered masses during the parade.
asserted
players → be → parade
Lions captain Lachie Neale was slightly less animated during the procession, giving brief waves as a smattering of boos could be heard as he drove past.
uncertain
he → give → boos
Neale received a last minute reprieve from the AFL Appeal Board last night, allowing him to play against his old side in his fifth grand final tomorrow.
But Lions fans were in force to show their team love and drown out the boos, with some admitting there was a sense of déjà vu to proceedings.
asserted
some → receive → proceedings
Brisbane will play in its fourth grand final in as many years, hoping to replicate its success of the early 2000s with another three-peat.
asserted
Brisbane → play → peat
In contrast, Fremantle are still searching for its first flag, having lost its only grand final appearance in 2013.
asserted
Fremantle → search → 2013
Freo captain Alex Pearce was soaking in the adulation from fans during the parade, as the veteran defender gets ready to play in his first ever grand final.
asserted
defender → soak → final
"It's been great seeing so many Freo fans that have turned up, it doesn't surprise us, they've been with us all year," Pearce said.
asserted
Pearce → see → us
"I've got to know them over the 13 years I've been at this club, they're the most passionate fans in the league."
asserted
they → get → league
Many fans said they had flown in from WA during the week, hoping for the chance to glimpse a history-making win.
asserted
they → say → win
It wouldn't be the sacred last weekend in September without an appearance from Mike Brady, who had the crowd laughing before performing his customary rousing rendition of Up There Cazaly.
asserted
crowd → have → Cazaly
"You'll know this song ...
asserted
You → know → song
I call it my superannuation," he said.
asserted
he → call → it
There was some extra entertainment for younger fans too, as The Wiggles took to the stage to perform.
asserted
Wiggles → be → stage
Interstate fans flock to Melbourne for big game
For some Lions fans, the AFL Grand Final parade has simply become an expected yearly pilgrimage.
asserted
parade → flock → fans
Tomorrow, the Hall family will be attending their fourth grand final in a row.
asserted
family → attend → row
Hayley, Henry, Abigail, William and Violet Hall all travelled down from the Sunshine Coast in the hopes of witnessing a premiership three-peat.
asserted
Hayley → travel → peat
"We were here in 2023 when they lost to Collingwood, but we all believe that we wouldn't be going for our three-peat if we didn't lose that one," Hayley Hall said.
"
asserted
Hall → lose → one
You hope that you're always here the next year, but you just never know, so you just have to savour it as much as you can because you never know when you're gonna be back.
asserted
you → hope → it
"
But for the youngest member of the Hall clan, grand final day has simply become the norm.
asserted
day → become → clan
"She's five and she's been at four grand finals, so she's been living a very good life," Ms Hall said.
asserted
Hall → live → life
"She doesn't really know any different apart from the Lions winning, she's living the dream that one.
asserted
she → know → dream
In contrast, Lions fans Delaney Biglin and Kyle Moore will be attending their first ever grand final tomorrow, having finally secured tickets.
asserted
fans → attend → tickets
They said the nerves were beginning to build, but were looking forward to seeing history be made regardless.
asserted
history → say → ?
We're either gonna see a three-peat or we're gonna see Freo's first granny, so it's gonna be great either way," Kyle said.
asserted
Kyle → go → granny
Freo fans Lee Lennon and Jo Crocos flew in from Perth this week, hoping to see their Dockers win their first flag in person.
asserted
Dockers → fly → person
"We booked in April and paid," Jo said.
asserted
Jo → book → April
"Very confident we were," Lee adds.
asserted
Lee → add → ?
"
While it was Lee's first time at grand final festivities, Jo was returning after 13 years, having watched Fremantle go down to Hawthorn in the 2013 Grand Final.
asserted
Fremantle → return → Final
The pair admitted they were nervous about the game tomorrow, but also quietly confident they could finally snatch the premiership from the Lions.
uncertain
they → admit → Lions
"I think really it's about time they had another loss so I think it's going to be to us," Lee said.
asserted
Lee → think → us
Sharon Isle and her son Jarvis have also been waiting a long time to see the Dockers win a flag.
asserted
Dockers → wait → flag
Jarvis was just seven-years-old when Freo lost its last grand final, and is ready for the club to finally break through.
"I'm hyped.
asserted
I → lose → final
I've been waiting you know 13 years, waiting another seven before that," Jarvis said.
asserted
Jarvis → wait → that
"It's just been incredible to see the boys come this far and the entire country get behind them, not just people from Fremantle."
asserted
country → see → Fremantle
"We're flying back home on Sunday ... hopefully with our shirt saying AFL Premiers 2026," Sharon adds.
asserted
Sharon → fly → Premiers
Grand final first-timers raring to go
For some players on both teams, it was the first time they have experienced the hype and hubbub of grand final weekend festivities.
asserted
they → rare → festivities
Ruckman Sam Draper, who made the move to Brisbane this year in the hopes of playing in a grand final, said he was shocked coming out of his hotel this morning and seeing how many fans had gathered.
asserted
fans → make → hotel
"It's pretty crazy seeing all the cameras and microphones in front me right now.
asserted
It → see → me
It's a pretty big deal," Draper said.
asserted
Draper → say → ?
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
