Updated
Melbourne is in the grip of grand final fever and the countdown is on to the big game between Hawthorn and Fremantle on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams are taking part in the grand final parade later today in clear and cool conditions.
Three AFL fans camped outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) until game time have been rewarded for their dedication.
They got a chance to hold the premiership cup as it was being delivered to the ground.
Hawks fan Dean Marshall set up camp at 11:00pm last night queuing for the best seat in the members stand.
And he could not pass up the chance to get his hands on the winner's cup.
"Some lady came past with the premiership cup and I had to have it. I had to have a hold of it," he said.
"You see it being presented around to everyone and, to hold (it) it's quite heavy actually."
Allan Pianta is also camped outside the MCG.
It is his 51st consecutive VFL/AFL grand final and getting his hands on the cup was a real bonus.
"(It was) a real surprise, I didn't expect that. I was trying to get a little bit of extra sleep because it can be a long time waiting for the big day," he said.
"I was surprised with the weight. It really is worth its weight in gold."
Mr Marshall says the time passes quickly while they wait for the gates to open.
He is all set up with food, blankets, drinks and reading material.
"(By) the time Saturday morning 8:00am comes around, there's 10,000 people queuing at the gates," he said.
"You see the same people, year in year out, only once a year, so you get to know everyone."
Mr Pianta says sport is is the epitome of life.
"It just has all its ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, and camaraderie, it is really just magnificent," he said.
"I'm the last to be kicked out of the Long Room. (I) savour it all. I just hope it's a brilliant game."
Dockers player were given a rock star farewell from Perth yesterday by about 200 fans dressed in club colours and carrying purple and white balloons.
But fans waiting to see them at the airport missed out when the team boarded a bus on the tarmac and went straight to their hotel.
There were, however, about 20 fans waiting for them at their hotel.
Thousands of Fremantle fans have trekked across the Nullabor for the team's first-ever grand final.
Peg Foley is making the trip for the big game and has been to many games since the Dockers were formed in 1994.
"We went to the first game in Melbourne and we reckon we were robbed then by the umpires," she said.
"We got beat by five points. Played Richmond. We say practically every game (that) the umpire's against us."
She says playing in the grand final is the ultimate reward for 20 years as a supporter.
"I never thought in my time probably that it would happen. I'm so glad it is," she said.
"(It's) just a shame my brothers aren't here but I'm sure there's like two of them, they'll be celebrating up, up there (in heaven)."
Ms Foley says it will chaos if the Dockers do win.
"It'll be a wonderful sight. I can't sleep, I can't wait," she said.
"They're going to win of course. No other way is there? Got to think the right way, yeah we're going to win."
The Victorian and Western Australia Premiers Denis Napthine and Colin Barnett have also sealed their traditional grand final bet.
The loser has to wear the other team's colours and spruik for the losing state in Federation Square.
Topics: australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, fremantle-6160
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