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

Here’s the full rundown of training from Craig O’Donoghue.

It includes a cracking pic from photographer Danella Bevis of ex-Dockers Nick Suban, Zac Dawson, Lee Spurr and Hayden Ballantyne having the time of their lives while watching from the MCG stands!

“Clearly when he found out, we had a bit of a chat and I gave him a bit of a hug, but the thing with Brennan is he’s got such great character and one of the first things he said was ‘don’t worry, I’ll still give to the group’ and that’s what he’s done.”

That’s Alex Pearce on long-time defensive partner Brennan Cox after he missed out on selection.

Here’s the full wrap of Pearce, Justin Longmuir and Luke Ryan chatting about Freo’s heartbreak story of grand final week.

It’s the video that will have you prepared to run through a brick wall (and hopefully Dockers players watch it, too)!

Past Freo players including Paul Hasleby, Michael Walters, Kepler Bradley, Dale Kickett and plenty more have voiced their messages of support for the current group.

Watch it here!

Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick says the level of support in Melbourne shows why the Dockers are a great club.

“It’s awesome. I love the fact so many have travelled,” he says.

“They are so passionate. It’s been an incredible turnout.

“They’ve shown this passion for 32 years and it is fantastic to see them having such a good time.”

The Dockers are just wrapping up their light and brief session on the MCG turf.

They’ve been wowed by the crowd, which is significantly larger than what we’re accustomed to seeing at the ‘G the day before the grand final.

More than half the lower deck is filled, spread across the entire ground, as fans jostle to get a glimpse of their heroes just over 24 hours out from the start of the big one.

Pat Voss was a popular target for the crowd as usual during the light run, with big cheers every time he slotted one through the sticks.

Past Freo favourites such as Hayden Ballantyne and Lee Spurr - who both played in the 2013 decider - were on hand to watch.

OK, not quite as full as it will be on Saturday... but if these scenes are anything to go by, Fremantle will have a massive section of support tomorrow!

There’s plenty in the house as Fremantle get through their captain’s run.

As we await some news from Freo’s training session... why not have a go at our Dockers quiz?

There’s 30 questions sorted into easy, medium and hard categories.... so if you reckon you know who booted Fremantle’s first goal in the 2013 grand final among other bits of trivia, then you should give it a crack!

It’s been a remarkable 18 months for Oscar Allen, who has gone from a horror year at the Eagles in 2025 to playing in a grand final for his new club in 2026.

He opened up about a range of topics earlier today.

Matthew Pavlich is on the ground in Melbourne, and while he was overseeing Sydney in his role as CEO in last week’s prelim final, he’s left no doubt as to where his allegiance lies this week.

“I’ve got lots of my family here… they’re all wearing purple,” he told The West Australian’s Craig O’Donoghue.

“I’m excited for them and excited for my old club.

“Obviously I wish my new team would be there… but I’m all in on a Fremantle victory.

“I think we can acknowledge that I had a long history at the club and there’s a lot of people that I know there that I hope do well.

“We were fierce rivals last Friday night.

“Hopefully, we can beat the Lions. Hopefully, the old team can beat them.”

The parade’s done, and the players are filtering out to turn their attention to the all-important last training session at the MCG.

Freo will hit the track in half an hour’s time at 12.30pm local / 10.30am WA time, while the Lions get their chance for a run there an hour after that.