The tens of thousands of Fremantle fans who have descended on the MCG for the grand final well and truly took a rare opportunity to show their appreciation for one of their greatest ever players.

One of the loudest cheers of the day was reserved for Nat Fyfe, who took his place in the traditional retirees motorcade which took a lap of the ground.

And while wearing a Fremantle scarf, he was all too happy to embrace the moment, waving to the crowd and even pumping his fists and urging them to get louder.

A chant of ‘Freo’ promptly roared around the 100,000-seat venue exactly an hour before the scheduled start of the game, and the purple sections even serenaded Fyfe with a standing ovation.

Fyfe played 248 games over his brilliant 16-year career for the Dockers, but the club’s only other appearance in the season decider in 2013 was as close as the two-time Brownlow medallist got to the ultimate team success.

The Dockers great has proven somewhat reclusive since the end of his career, but was spotted in his former side’s rooms after they defeated Brisbane at the Gabba in round 12.

Fyfe was paraded around the ground alongside his former Fremantle teammate and great friend James Aish, who also called time on his AFL career last year.

Richmond retiree Nathan Broad was part of the recession alongside his fellow three-time Richmond premiership player Dion Prestia, despite the Swan Districts product having been persistently linked to West Coast.

Some of the other retirees to take their place in the motorcade included Adelaide’s Taylor Walker, Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom and Western Bulldogs pair Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar.

Melbourne’s Tom McDonald was part of the proceedings and even sported a Dockers scarf, showing his support for brother Oscar.

Former West Coast forward Jamie Cripps, who called time on his 277-game career after suffering a serious knee injury earlier this year, was not part of the motorcade.