AFL grand final: Live coverage of the day before the decider as Fremantle Dockers complete final preparations

The ‘USA’ chant is following Mason Cox around.

He’s of course no stranger to this environment, having played in grand finals in 2018 and 2023 with Collingwood.

He nods and claps as the chant rings out, while sitting alongside Oscar McDonald.

Hayden Young’s dad and Josh Treacy’s dad are hanging out together watching the grand final parade. How good?!

“Pumped. Ready to go,” Young’s dad says.

When asked what he’s most excited about, he says: “Actually seing my boy in the back of a ute. I’ve lived here in Melbourne all my life, and now I actually get to see my son in the back of a ute in the grand final parade. That’s what it’s all about.”

Treacy’s dad: “It’s just good for all the Freo fans who have travelled and the history that’s going to be created tomorrow.”

Pat Voss: “I don’t think it has fully sunk in... we’ve got a job to do.”

When asked if he’ll have a negating role on Brisbane skipper Harris Andrews tomorrow: “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you. We’ll keep that one close to our chest.”

The retiring Sam Switkowski is another who seems cool as a cucumber as he gets a huge reception from Freo fans.

“It’s been a crazy week already. I couldn’t ask for any more. It’s pretty cool to be a part of it,” he says.

“It’s not fully sunk in yet. To see the amount of fans we’ve got here today, and all week, supporting us has been awesome.

“I’m just super grateful to have the opportunity to be out there tomorrow. The nerves are actually pretty good. I’m just super excited to give it everything.”

Josh Treacy and Pat Voss are in one ute that’s packed with some serious forward-line power.

Shai Bolton and Michael Frederick are giving waves and thumbs-ups to the considerable crowd, which is definitely mostly purple.

Andrew Brayshaw says he’s got plenty of friends and family along the parade route, but he’s relaxed and calm ahead of the biggest game of his life.

The lengthy press conference is done, and the players and coaches are filling up the utes and ready to ride along the parade route!

Punters will have the chance to be right up close with their heroes, with a super-narrow parade route for the most part.

One of the big questions with Melbourne’s impending wet weather for Saturday is around whether Freo could make a late change - particularly with the towering Mason Cox.

But Justin Longmuir insists the Dockers will go in as named, and won’t be entertaining any late switches.

“They’re aware of the conditions tomorrow, and we’ll have to adjust to certain things... but no late changes,” Longmuir says.

“He was close... clearly close,” Longmuir says of Brennan Cox, who narrowly missed selection as the Dockers stuck with Oscar McDonald instead.

“He trained really well... we went with continuity and consistency of team, and we went with AFL match fitness.”

Longmuir says Cox - and others who have narrowly missed out - was disappointed but would rally around the team.

Alex Pearce says one of the first things Cox told him after a hug was ‘Don’t worry, I’ll still give to the group’.”

Justin Longmuir and Chris Fagan are sitting alongside their respective skippers at the pre-parade press conference.

Fagan says it’s “Good for Lachie, good for footy” that Neale has been freed to play.

He reveals Noah Answerth - one of his favourites - would have got the call-up had Neale’s ban stood.

Justin Longmuir on the Neale saga: “We just expected him to play... I’m a bit cynical with these things. We prepare for Brisbane’s best and he’s clearly in their best.”

The sun is out in Melbourne - and Freo’s fans are out in force along the parade route.

They’ll be hoping this weather holds, as the forecast for tomorrow’s big game remains a little dicey. 2-8mm of rain is scheduled across Saturday.

A quartet of players have just completed their pre-game media chats, with Jye Amiss, Neil Erasmus, Oscar Allen and Sam Draper all chatting about their impending maiden grand final appearances. They’ll then head to the start of the parade.