What time does the AFL grand final start and how can I watch it in Australia?
It’s Sydney v Brisbane in the AFL grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but don’t kid yourself that this game doesn’t mean everything to Victorians and sports fans everywhere.
These two teams have a steep history, dating back to their last grand final foray over 125 years ago between the South Melbourne Football Club and the Fitzroy Football Club.
When the first bounce is taken at 2.30pm on Saturday the Sydney ‘SMFC Bloods’ and the Brisbane ‘FFC Lions’ will hold the interest of the Australian sporting public no matter what state they are from.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It’s a great spot to be in,” said Sydney coach John Longmire after their convincing win against Port Adelaide on Friday night at the SCG.
“It’s what you work for. It’s what you start training for from last year.”
Concerning preparations for their second grand final in three years, the Swans mentor added: “You live in the moment. We talked about that this week, just concentrate on what’s in front of us and that’s where you get your focus.
“That’s where you sharpen your focus, day by day, and that’s what we did tonight. I think it worked pretty well and we’ll maintain that focus on our preparations and what we can control.”
The mind games have already begun as the Brisbane Lions leant into a siege mentality and circled coach Chris Fagan immediately after their win over Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night.
Midfielder Jarrod Berry became emotional speaking on Fox Sports about the 63-year-old Fagan and their road to the 2024 grand final.
“For a coach to get his squad and his players up for the season on season, put ourselves in a position to be in a finals series and get to grand finals, (it’s) just an absolute testament to how much we want to play for him (Fagan),” Berry said.
“He’s like our dad, to be honest.
“I just want to — more than anything — I just want to do it for him and show the haters that he’s a sensational people person, and he’s got all the boys right behind him.”
Where and when can I watch the AFL grand final day coverage?
The 2024 AFL Grand Final will be broadcast live on Channel Seven and 7plus, via the 7plus app, and streaming the replay on Kayo Sports.
Check out all the AFL grand final viewing times:
2024 AFL Grand Final Brunch
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (AEST): 9am live on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Adelaide (ACST): 8.30am live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Perth (AWST): 7am live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
2024 AFL Grand Final Countdown
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 10.30am live on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Adelaide: 10am live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Perth: 8.30am live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
2024 AFL Grand Final Pre-Game Show
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 12pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Adelaide: 11.30am live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Perth: 10am live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
2024 AFL Grand Final
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 2pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Adelaide: 1.30pm live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Perth: 12pm live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
2024 AFL Grand Final Presentations (times subject to match completion)
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 5pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Adelaide: 4.30pm live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
- Perth: 3pm live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus
The commentary team for the AFL grand final coverage
Melbourne premiership captain Max Gawn will join Seven’s grand final coverage as part of the grand final brunch, hosted by 7NEWS Melbourne’s Rebecca Maddern while Collingwood 403-game player Scott Pendlebury will join the grand final countdown panel, hosted by Luke Darcy.
Football’s No.1 commentary team will field an unbeatable grand final line-up, featuring Brian Taylor, James Brayshaw, Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Luke Hodge, Matthew Richardson, Abbey Holmes, Dale Thomas, Max Gawn, Luke Darcy, Shaun Burgoyne, Jude Bolton, Scott Pendlebury, Chris Johnson, Rebecca Maddern, Joel Selwood, Campbell Brown, Cameron Ling, Kate McCarthy and Katie Brown.
7NEWS football reporters Mitch Cleary, Theo Doropoulos and Kate Massey will also present all the breaking news throughout the day.
Seven’s Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe, said: “For the first time since South Melbourne and Fitzroy met in the 1899 VFL Grand Final, the Swans and the Lions will travel south for the biggest day on the Australian sporting calendar – and we couldn’t be more excited.
“As Australian Rules football continues to reach new heights in Queensland and New South Wales, it’s fitting that the two best teams of 2024 herald from the northern states. If you thought State of Origin was big, wait until you see this rivalry. It’s going to be massive.
AFL grand final teams and experience
Sydney Swans
Dane Rampe: 22 finals, three GFs, Tom McCartin: Eight finals, one GF, Nick Blakey: Six finals, one GF, Jake Lloyd: 19 finals, three GFs, Harry Cunningham: 14 finals, one GF, Lewis Melican: Four finals, James Jordon: Six finals, one GF, one premiership, Chad Warner: Seven finals, one GF, Ollie Florent: Eight finals, one GF, Luke Parker: 25 finals, four GFs, one premiership, Logan McDonald: Five finals, Errol Gulden: Seven finals, one GF, Tom Papley: 14 finals, two GFs, Joel Amartey: Three finals, Will Hayward: Eight finals, one GF, Brodie Grundy: 11 finals, one GF, Isaac Heeney: 16 finals, two GFs, James Rowbottom: Seven finals, one GF, Matt Roberts: Two finals, Braeden Campbell: Six finals, one GF, Justin McInerney: Seven finals, one GF, Hayden McLean: Five finals, one GF, Robbie Fox: Six finals, one GF.
Total: 216 finals, 28 grand finals.
Brisbane Lions
Dayne Zorko: 15 finals, one GF, Harris Andrews: 15 finals, one GF, Noah Answerth: Seven finals, Brandon Starcevich: 13 finals, one GF, Jack Payne: Nine finals, Ryan Lester: Nine finals, one GF, Jaspa Fletcher: Six finals, one GF, Will Ashcroft: Three finals, Hugh McCluggage: 15 finals, one GF, Cam Rayner: 12 finals, one GF, Joe Daniher: 12 finals, one GF, Jarrod Berry: 15 finals, one GF, Charlie Cameron: 22 finals, two GFs, Eric Hipwood: 13 finals, one GF, Callum Ah Chee: 11 finals, one GF, Darcy Fort: One final, Josh Dunkley: 17 finals, three GFs, one premiership, Lachie Neale: 22 finals, two GFs, Kai Lohmann: Three finals, Logan Morris: Three finals, Zac Bailey: 15 finals, one GF, Darcy Wilmot: Nine finals, one GF, Conor McKenna: Eight finals, one GF.
Total: 255 finals, 19 grand finals.
Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions – The history so far
In the new era since the Fitzroy Football Club moved its base to become the Brisbane Lions in 1997, the two teams have played 43 times with Sydney on top in the head-to-head win stakes by 26-17.
Both teams have had incredible success since their transitions out of Melbourne to their new interstate homes, and this grand final will deliver a familiar eastern seaboard feel.
Supporters of another code are sure to take more than a passing interest in this match, as the Queensland – New South Wales State of Origin rivalry in rugby league is one of the fiercest in world sport.
The Sydney Swans and South Melbourne Football Club have played a total of 10 grand finals dating back over 125 years with the most recent victory over Hawthorn in 2012.
The Brisbane Lions and Fitzroy Football Club have won a total of 11 premierships dating back to a victory in 1898 as Fitzroy, but most notably scored a three-peat of victories between 2001 and 2003 as the Brisbane Lions, announcing themselves as an AFL powerhouse.
What is the entertainment at the MCG on the grand final day?
The 90,000-plus crowd will be treated to a performance from US pop star Katy Perry, who is the headline act for one of the most anticipated entertainment events of the year.
Perry, who has a great affiliation with Australia and has performed to sellout crowds ‘down under’, will play some of her greatest hits including Roar, Dark Horse and Firework in the pre-game show.
Australian swimmer and pop star, Cody Simpson, will sing the national anthem and Christine Anu and daughter Zipporah Corser-Anu will feature during the First Nations ceremony accompanied by the Songlines Youth Choir.
The 2024 retirees motorcade will take place once again as we say farewell to some of the game’s greats, backed up by the grand final day tradition and a rousing rendition of ‘Up There Cazaly’ from singer Mike Brady.
The fastest men in AFL will also contest the 100m sprint race with one speedster from every club set to line up before the match begins.
What if there is a draw when the AFL grand final finishes in regular time?
The 2024 AFL grand final is scheduled to finish at around 5pm AEST, however, stoppages during the game and extra time may cause the match coverage to be extended.
Extra time is required if scores are level at full-time. Both teams have a six-minute break before the game resumes with two three-minute halves (plus time on).
Teams will swap ends after each half without a break.
An extra 10 interchanges are permitted during each half of extra time and do not roll over.
If scores are still level after the first extra time, another two halves of extra time would then be played and so on.
Swans v Lions – Who are the favourites and who will win the Norm Smith Medal?
With no Victorian teams contesting this year’s grand final and the gritty determination of both the Swans and Lions to surge into the ‘big dance’, the markets for premiership winner and the Norm Smith medalist have tightened right up.
“It is very close to call if you look at the money invested once our markets for the grand final went up Saturday night after Brisbane won,” said TAB’s Gerard Daffy.
“We thought the punters might come for Sydney but that hasn’t been the case, and the ‘firm’ has actually been for Brisbane.
“It is very close at $1.77 Sydney and $2.05 for Brisbane - so almost too close to call one team favoured with confidence at the moment.”
The Norm Smith Medal is always a hotly contested affair with players able to add their name to the mix from any position on the field.
“The obvious attention for the ‘Norm Smith’ will be around guys like Isaac Heeney and Lachie Neale of course, with Chad Warner right in the mix,” Daffy added.
“One other market we find very popular is for the first goal scorer, as well as the Norm Smith Medal, which gives people something to cheer at the start and end of the game.”
Who is presenting the awards on AFL grand final day?
Presentations are always a major part of the theatre of the AFL grand final moment, and there are a host of official roles to fill.
Each club will nominate a club legend to attend the game and be available to present the premiership cup should their team be victorious. These two nominees will be named during the grand final week.
Other presenting honours have already been confirmed:
- Norm Smith Medal: Three-time Geelong premiership player Steve Johnson will present the award to the player voted as best-on-ground
- Jock McHale Medal: Four-time premiership coach David Parkin will present the award to the premiership coach
- Ron Barassi Medal: Geelong 1963 premiership captain Fred Wooller will present the first ever Ron Barassi Medal to the premiership captain
- West Coast 2018 premiership player Josh Kennedy and premiership cup ambassador, will deliver the trophy to the MCG on grand final day
AFL grand final day weather at the MCG
The weather on AFL grand final day looks perfect for ‘fast-track’ footy.
Predictions are for a lovely 21 degrees, just over 50 per cent humidity, little or no chance of rain and a slight cloud cover.
The wind predictor is for a breeze of 21km/h which should not be a major factor in the game.
