Wet and wild: AFL grand final shapes as soggy affair

Former wet weather specialist and Brisbane premiership hero Simon Black believes forecast showers could aide the current Lions' bid to match his team's famous three-peat.

Black was among Brisbane's best in the 2002 decider, when they beat Collingwood at a sodden MCG to win the second of three flags under Leigh Matthews.

Black is confident Chris Fagan's Lions can handle similar conditions better than Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting up to 15mm of rain and a top of 16 degrees.

"They're pretty good at being able to adapt to conditions and getting territory and get the ball going forward.

"If it is wet, that's how it's going to be played - territory's your friend ... so I think that will hold them in reasonably good stead."

Black will present the Lions with the cup if they are successful on Saturday, with Fremantle naming inaugural captain Shaun McManus for the honour if they break through for a maiden flag.

McManus noted Fremantle were outplayed in wet conditions in their qualifying final loss to Hawthorn, but described that match as a "good sighter".

"Although they went down in that game, they would've learnt some valuable lessons," McManus said.

"It was good they got that chance a couple of weeks ago to play in wet weather."

Fremantle's three tall forwards - Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss and Jye Amiss - were particularly quiet against the Hawks.

But McManus felt it was more about the trio getting in each other's way than the conditions.

"Josh Treacy can certainly play on the ground and Patrick Voss can play like a hybrid tall, so they're just going to have to make better space for each other," McManus said.

"In that game Fremantle overused the ball, so I'd imagine both teams will get the talking to if it is raining.

All-Australian half-back Jordan Clark, one of Fremantle's best against Hawthorn, played down the significance of rain in the grand final.