AFL grand final LIVE: Brisbane Lions, Fremantle fans count down to the decider at a wet MCG

Roy WardUpdated September 26, 2026 — 12:30pm,first published 11:54amBrought to you by Key PostsPoll: Who are you supporting?By Latest Posts12.30pmTaylor grapples with holding the ball ruleBy Brittany BuschThe footy buzz has even entranced Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who told the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast this was his first AFL premiership game.Taylor joked that in his outer Western Sydney electorate, AFL was once as rare as finding Liberal Party voters.Leader of the opposition Angus Taylor at the North Melbourne grand final breakfast.Simon Schluter“Where I come from, a mark is what you get on a school test, a behind is what you sit on, and if 90,000 people start yelling out ‘ball’, well then eventually someone gives it to you,” he said.“As part of my education of AFL in recent days, I’ve been trying to better understand the holding the ball rule. It’s all a bit of a mystery to me, but after last weekend’s preliminary finals, it’s good to know that Hawthorn fans don’t understand it either.”Taylor poked fun at the wildcard that opened the door for a team that finished 10th to become premiers.“As someone who’s in politics, I probably shouldn’t encourage that sort of thing, but you know, given the polls, maybe I should,” he said.12.24pmFlight cancellations leave Brisbane fans high and dryBy Shelby BrooksAt least four flights from Queensland to Melbourne have been cancelled as bad weather brings chaos to last minute footy fans.Qantas flight QF1253 which was due to land at Tullamarine 11.40am was cancelled this morning with later flights experiencing delays.Two Virgin Australia flights out of Brisbane and one from the Gold Coast have also been cancelled.Earlier in the blog, we spoke to Fremantle fans who faced delays in their flights from Perth.12.16pmLions or Dockers? No team Kylie; fans bring support toysBy Hannah KennellyThere are actually three teams in this AFL grand final. Brisbane Lions, Fremantle and team Kylie Minogue.There’s another 90 minutes until the pop princess takes to the MCG stage , but fans are out in force, either many wearing the pink and purple AFL guernseys or braving the rain to line up for a special Kylie Sherrin decorated with sparkles.Lions fan Andrew Svenson arrives at the MCG.Joe ArmaoSpeaking of rain…. There’s plenty of it here at the G, but poncho clad fans don’t seem to mind too much. Spare a thought for some of the people who have been waiting hours outside to get a ticket who don’t have reserved seats. They look absolutely soaked.It’s 14 degrees currently (feels more like 10 degrees), and the forecast suggests it will keep raining for the next few hours.There’s a group of young Brisbane fans getting little lions temporary tattoos on their faces while clutching some Lions plushies.“Emotional support toys,” their mum calls out. “In case the game gets too close.” But there’s plenty of Fremantle supporters here. I can spot some Freo fans carrying a “Big Dock energy sign”.12.10pmFreo fans sprint to airport taxi lines to make the gameBy Shelby BrooksFooty fanatics from Perth are dashing to taxi and Skybus lines to make it in time for kick off at the MCG following morning flight delays.Father and son duo Neil and Nate Hauser sprinted to be the first in line at the taxi rank after their plane touched down from Perth 35 minutes late.Nate and Neil Hauser waiting in the taxi rank at Melbourne Airport before the grand final.Shelby Brooks“The plane was doing laps around Melbourne because the plane couldn’t land straight away and then they couldn’t get the doors open,” Neil said.“It’s been a stressful few moments.”12.08pmTough, hard day to come in wet grand finalBy The rain will keep coming, but there is a chance it could slow down in the late afternoon.Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge was excited to see the rain falling at the MCG during pregame, despite he and his TV colleagues at Seven being under umbrellas.“I get excited about these conditions, you have to be tough and hard,” Hodge said on Seven.Poll: Who are you supporting?By 11.58amIn pictures: Our grand final day galleryBy Please keep checking our grand final day picture gallery as we will continue to add shots as the colour and celebrations unfold.Click here for the gallery.Some pictures from a wet grand final day.Getty Images11.52amThe scene in FremantleBy Cameron MylesIt’s not even 8am in Fremantle and already the city’s iconic Cappuccino Strip is bustling as people get in early to secure their spot to watch the game on a giant screen set up in the CBD. Everywhere you look there is purple.The scene in Fremantle.Cameron MylesRain is forecast for later today but the day seems fine so far. Most people seem prepared to hunker down to watch the Dockers, rain, hail or shine. Down the road in the hip enclave of South Fremantle, the strip’s busy cafes and roaster all have their TVs tuned to the pre-match coverage. The stage is set for what some feel could be Fremantle’s busiest day since the America’s Cup.Fans are already heading into Fremantle.Cameron Myles11.42amWelcome to our grand final coverageBy Welcome to our coverage of the AFL grand final. I’m Roy Ward, and I’ll be with you as we count down to the opening ball up – yes, this will be the first grand final since the AFL ditched the bounce – taking you through all the action on and off the field, and bringing you news and interviews from our experts who will be in the winning and losing rooms post-match.Will the Dockers win their first flag? Or will the Lions achieve their second three-peat? History or dynasty? You could do worse than check out our footy experts’ tips, along with their predictions for who will win the Norm Smith Medal. Enjoy the hours to come, the match is set to start at 2.30pm AEST.1 of 1