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

Alex Pearce and Josh Dunkley hold the cup aloft as the parade festivities start to draw to a close.

For the record? The first one to let go of the cup - which some believe is bad luck - was Pearce. The previous three seasons have seen the captain who lets go first suffer a loss on grand final day, for whatever that is worth...

The cars have reached their destination at the Footy Fest site, and the Dockers get a massive reception as they take the stage to the Freo anthem!

Premiership cup ambassador Luke Hodge hears some boos from the crowd after he leans toward his former club Brisbane for his grand final tip.

What kind of reception did Dockers fans give Lachie Neale as he rolled by?

Watch it below!

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There’s also a fan wearing a shirt that’s fresh off the printer with a courtroom sketch of Neale from Tuesday’s tribunal hearing...

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Luke Ryan is riding alongside Brennan Cox - and Cox’s son Arlo - after the defender’s heartbreaking news at selection yesterday.

“It’s pretty cool that I get to do it (be in the grand final parade) with my best mate and his kid,” Ryan said.

“I feel for him. He’s my best mate.

“I’m pretty sad he’s not out there with me.

“But win, lose or draw, we’re still best mates, and I love sharing this experience with him.”

Ryan says Cox learnt of the decision with a bit of time to digest it before Thursday afternoon’s team announcement.

“I found out a couple of days ago. We drive each other to training every day still,” he said.

“I’ve just been around as much as possible. Stick our arms around him and support him.”

Isaiah Dudley talking about the advice he received from his uncle Eddie Betts, who played in a grand final with Adelaide in 2017:

“Enjoy the moment, soak it up, and when it comes to game day, just do my thing,” Dudley says.

Neale compares his less-than-ideal lead-in to last year’s calf battle and a foot issue from the year before: “I feel like I’m well-equipped to deal with it.”

Admits that for most of the week, he felt like the decision wasn’t going to go his way.

Rates Freo’s midfield: “The depth they’ve got through there now... it’s going to be a great battle.”

Says he’s feeling fresh and ready to go: “It’s probably the best I’ve felt body-wise going into a grand final... across the last four years.”

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.”