Lions and Dockers wave to thousands at Grand Final Parade
Brisbane captain Lachie Neale copped a smattering of boos and kept waving as he rode through Melbourne on Friday, one night after a last-minute reprieve saved his Grand Final.
The 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade rolled through Melbourne Park and past the MCG on Friday, 25 September 2026, with Brisbane and Fremantle players smiling and waving to thousands of fans along the route, according to ABC.
Neale gave only brief waves to the crowd. The night before the parade, the AFL Appeal Board cleared him to play. That decision lets him line up against his old side in his fifth grand final.
The stakes on Saturday are stark. Brisbane is into its fourth grand final in four years. Coach Chris Fagan is chasing a three-peat, meaning three premierships — the championship awarded to the season winner — in a row.
Fremantle is chasing history of a different kind. The Dockers have never won a flag. Their only previous Grand Final appearance ended in defeat in 2013.
Captain Alex Pearce will run out for his first ever Grand Final. Midfield stars Andy Brayshaw and Caleb Serong will join him for their first deciders on Saturday. Luke Jackson brings the group’s Grand Final experience, after winning the 2021 premiership in Perth.
Pearce and Brisbane’s Josh Dunkley lifted the premiership cup together to cheers during the parade. It was a brief moment of unity before they meet as opponents.
There was plenty for families early. Mike Brady performed Up There Cazaly, the sport’s long-time anthem, and The Wiggles took to the stage in Melbourne Park. The Wiggles had been scheduled for a 9.30am set before joining the parade, according to The Guardian.
The parade itself was scheduled from 10.30am to 11.30am AEST, after public access opened and early entertainment at Melbourne Park, the AFL said. The route moved through Melbourne Park and into the MCG’s Yarra Park precinct. Coverage was broadcast live and exclusively on Fox Footy.
What makes this stand out is the contrast. One side knows this week cold. The other has waited more than a decade for another chance.
The 2026 AFL Grand Final between Brisbane and Fremantle is listed for the MCG on Saturday, 26 September, with the opening bounce scheduled for 2.30pm AEST, according to ABC.
