The AFL grand final is upon us, with the big game to feature a host of pre-match entertainment before the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions square off.
Check out The Roar’s full guide to ensure you don’t miss any of the action.
The grand final itself will see the first bounce once again at its traditional time of 2:30pm (AEST); but the day’s many festivities will get going long before the Swans and Lions begin to slug it out.
For Melbourne fans with tickets to the game, the gates will open at 9am (AEST), so get there early and enjoy all the action in the lead-up to the actual game.
For those watching at home, both Seven and Fox Footy’s pre-match coverage will also begin at 9am (AEST), with Fox beginning with the traditional Grand Final Breakfast.
The first item on the agenda is the grand final curtain-raiser between ‘Team Heppell’ and ‘Team Sloane’, named after retiring greats Dyson Heppell and Rory Sloane; however, the two will not be involved in the game.
Instead, Team Heppell will be coached by Northern Territory Academy coach Dale Eames, while Team Slone is headed up by Oakleigh Chargers coach Ash Close.
The match will be broadcast exclusively on the AFL’s official website and the AFL app from 9:35am (AEST), while being free to watch.
The grand final sprint heats are up next, which will take place from 12:15pm (AEST), with 18 competitors – one from each club – featuring in two heats of nine, with the top eight fastest runners progressing to the final race at half time.
Kicking off the pre-match entertainment will be the Welcome to Country, followed by the traditional retiring players’ motorcade around the boundary, with the iconic Mike Brady to perform ‘Up There Cazaly’ during the ceremony.
Following that is the main act of the pre-match entertainment. Beginning at 1:40pm (AEST), pop icon Katy Perry will perform – with reports she will play four of her greatest hits and a song from her much-maligned new album.
She’ll be supported by Australian artist and ARIA winner Christine Anu and her daughter Zipporah Corser-Anu, alongside the Songlines Youth Choir.
From there, the teams will make their way on the field, the match ball and premiership cup will be delivered – the latter by cup ambassador and former West Coast champion Josh Kennedy – and an acknowledgement of country will be performed by Uncle Colin Hunter Jr.
The national anthem will be performed at 2:25pm by Australian swimmer and singer Cody Simpson, followed by the toss of the coin and then, at 2:30pm (AEST)… first bounce.
Should the game go according to schedule, the half time siren will sound at roughly 3:36pm (AEST). Then it’s time for the half time entertainment.
The half-time break is expected to go for 27 minutes, seven minutes longer than usual, to accommodate the grand final sprint, setting the start to the second half at approxmately 4:03pm (AEST).
Assuming there is no extra time required, the final siren will sound at roughly 5:09pm (AEST), followed by the post-match presentation. That will see the Norm Smith Medal awarded to the best player afield – presented by 2007 winner Steve Johnson – the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach – presented by four-time premiership coach at Hawthor and Carlton David Parkin – and the new addition of the inaugural Ron Barassi Medal, which will be awarded to the captain of the winning team by 1963 Geelong premiership captain Fred Wooller.
Finally, of course, there is lifting of the premiership cup. Should Brisbane win, triple-premiership Lions coach and AFL Legend Leigh Matthews will deliver the cup to coach Chris Fagan and captain Lachie Neale; while if Sydney win, the cup will be delivered to coach John Longmire and acting captain Dane Rampe by former Swan Stuart Maxfield, who captained the team in their premiership-winning 2005 season but missed the finals due to injury.
Unlike in previous years, there will be no post-match show.
8am – Melbourne Cricket Club gates open
9am – Seven Network pre-match coverage begins
9am – Fox Footy’s pre-match coverage begins, AFL Grand Final Breakfast
9:30am – General and AFL Reserve gates open
9:35am – Grand final curtain-raiser begins: AFL Futures match – Team Heppell vs Team Sloane
12:15pm – Grand final sprint – heats
1pm – Teams warm up on the MCG
1:23pm – Welcome to Country
1:26pm – Retiring players motorcade
1:33pm – Mike Brady performs Up There Cazaly
1:40pm – Pre-match entertainment: Katy Perry
2:10pm – Umpires enter field, match ball is delivered
2:13pm – Brisbane players enter field
2:16pm – Sydney players enter field
2:24pm – Premiership Cup delivered by ambassador Josh Kennedy
2:25pm – Acknowledgement of Country by Elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr
2:26pm – National anthem performed by Cody Simpson
2:28pm – Coin toss
2:30pm – AFL grand final starts
3pm* – Quarter time
3:06pm* – Second quarter starts
3:36pm* – Half time
3:40pm* – Grand Final sprint – final
4:03pm* – Third quarter starts
4:33pm* – Three-quarter time
4:39pm* – Fourth quarter starts
5:09pm* – Final siren
5:20pm* – Post-match presentation
All times AEST (Sydney/Melbourne time).
* Denotes approximate time only
Note – all times are subject to change. Times in game will depend on actual quarter length and any possible extra time required should scores be level at full-time. The quarter time and three-quarter time breaks will both be six minutes, and half time 20, regardless of game length..
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
After achieving the ultimate goal of a premiership in 2024, history and the loss of a key forward will present the Lions with a…
Former Brisbane Lions AFL premiership player Aaron Shattock is in a critical condition in hospital after a horror excavator accident at his Gold Coast…
Chris Fagan has signed an extended deal after the club's stunning rise to this year's premiership. Fagan, who at 63 became the oldest coach…
North Melbourne are AFLW premiers for the first time, after the league's best defence strangled reigning champions Brisbane in a comprehensive overturning of last…
The AFL free agency period is underway, with Hawthorn recruit Josh Battle and new Adelaide Crow Isaac Cumming the first names to switch clubs…
Just days after basking in premiership glory, Joe Daniher has announced his immediate AFL retirement. The big key forward informed teammates of his decision…
