2026 AFL grand final: Everything you need to know heading to Melbourne

Thousands of footy fans will make the pilgrimage to Melbourne ahead of the AFL’s grand final clash between the Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.

Brisbane fans will hoping their team make it three wins in a row, while Fremantle’s Purple Army will be hoping to break a premiership drought.

The Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers will meet in a historic grand final, with the first siren sounding at 2.30pm AEST on Saturday.

Brisbane and Fremantle have opposite track records in grand finals, with Saturday marking Fremantle’s second grand final appearance and Brisbane’s fourth grand final in a row, with the Lions winning the last two.

The clash will be historic for both sides, as Fremantle look to win the club’s first premiership and end Brisbane’s hopes of a second three-peat since 2000.

Brisbane is favourite but will be without dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale after a gut punch on Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan earnt him a suspension for the biggest game of the year.

But with most of the focus on the field, there are a few key details that spectators need to know before the first bounce.

Fremantle fans have turned up in droves to farewell the Dockers in their last training session before the grand final.

The grand final will be available for viewers across the country on Channel 7.

For viewers in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, the game will kick off at 2.30pm local time.

For South Australian and Northern Territory fans, the game will start at 2pm ACST, and for Western Australia, the game will begin at 12.30pm AWST.

Kylie Minogue will headline the pre-game show, with Australian singer G Flip opening the entertainment about 1pm.

Though Minogue may be the highlight, festivities for the AFL’s biggest day kick into gear on Friday.

The Wiggles will perform at Melbourne Park at 9.30am AEST before leading the grand final day parade at 10.30am AEST.