WHEN West Coast fan Julian Millman started attending away matches in Melbourne, only a handful the Eagles’ faithful would don their colours.
Players were accessible post-game, a local football club feel as the Eagles hit the road.
On Saturday, the Melbourne-based Millman will only have to skip a couple of suburbs to support his Eagles at the MCG.
Others have travelled across the Nullarbor, while a select are jetting in from all points of the globe to watch a glimpse of their team chase premiership glory.
AFL.com.au spoke to eight of them about the lengths they've gone to in order to be in Melbourne.
FOLLOW IT LIVE The 2018 Grand Final
LONDON'S Jack Crameri watched Collingwood's semi-final and preliminary final wins from Lisbon in Portugal before frantically getting to work to secure Grand Final tickets.
Having recently hiked through Norway (pictured above), Jack takes his Magpies jumper with him everywhere across Europe and never misses a match, often viewed over breakfast.
"Flights were quite cheap in the end but it’s a very short stay. Total travel time is basically the same length of time I'm in Melbourne, about two-and-a-half days."
Now representing the North London Lions, Jack coached the women's team, often training in snow and catching the 'Tube' all across London to various venues for matches.
MEGA-PREVIEW Eagles v Magpies - Who will win?
DIEHARD Collingwood fan Kenneth Oppenheimer will make the trip from remote Nauru in time for Saturday's decider.
Pictured far left (in the above photo), Kenneth is a board member for AFL Fiji and plays for the Nauru Magpies in the developing competition.
"Three months ago I asked some contact in Melbourne if they could somehow get me some tickets," he said.
"I had no idea that Collingwood would be in it. Playing for the Pies in Nauru and going for the Pies, it worked out perfectly."
LIVE BLOG All of the action from the GF
MITCHELL Hyde's travel blog @adventurefaktory has taken him all over Asia as he juggles working as a teacher across China, Vietnam and Dubai.
This weekend he flies in from Shanghai for his first Toyota AFL Grand Final experience.
"I tried very hard to get back for the horrible 2015 Grand Final but luckily for me, I could not get a ticket and avoided the disaster."
Using his strong social network through his travel blog that reaches more than 37,000 users, Mitchell was able to secure tickets.
Having played with the Shanghai Tigers, Vietnam Swans and now Dubai Dingoes, Mitchell keeps in touch with his beloved Eagles by using the WatchAFL pass no matter the timezone.
WHAT TIME DOES THE GRAND FINAL START? Everything you need to know
DUBAI'S Matt Burn will leave his wife at home, 31 weeks into her pregnancy in the hope of seeing his first Collingwood premiership.
Growing up in Geelong and playing school football with the likes of Jimmy Bartel and Nick Maxwell, Matt missed Maxwell lift the cup in 2010 premiership due to living in Perth and playing in his own Grand Final for South Bunbury.
He was there in 2011 as they fell to Geelong but will make the trek this weekend after getting the green light from his wife.
"I've been supporting the Pies since I was born thanks to dad and was a regular at Vic Park back in the day."
GARTH Nevin will return to the MCG, this time as a spectator as he cheers on his Magpies on Saturday.
Having coached the Great Britain Swans to third place at the International Cup last year, Nevin now looks after the England Dragonslayers.
As an ex-pat Aussie, he's doing all he can to lift the profile of the AFL in the UK.
"My British wife has been amazing at supporting me through the countless hours I have volunteerd to AFL," Garth said.
Flying through Singapore and Sydney to arrive in Melbourne, Garth made it back just in time to pick up his tickets from AFL House on Friday.
BORN-and-bred American Mike Murphy fell in love with AFL more than a decade ago and has flown in to soak up the Melbourne atmosphere this week.
"I haven't been able to secure a ticket… but (I'm) just excited to be here for the atmosphere."
Playing for the New York Magpies, Mike was introduced to the club by his American wife.
"Everyone thinks Mason (Cox) is the only American playing this sport, but back home there are hundreds of men and women who are passionate about AFL," he said.
"Granted Mason has set the bar high and we are very proud of our American legend."
DANIEL Fosbery was forced to twist his boss' arm in order to make a last-minute dash from London to Melbourne for Saturday's Grand Final.
Having attended only one decider, West Coast's 2005 loss to Sydney while living in Perth, he wasn't going to miss this opportunity.
Scrambling for tickets on Sunday after the Eagles' win over Melbourne, Daniel wasn't able to secure his seat until Wednesday, before making the journey via Hong Kong.
Living in the shadows of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London (pictured), Daniel plays for the North London Lions in the local competition.
EAGLES' royalty runs in the family for London's Dean Thomas, the cousin of former West Coast's 1999 Coleman medallist Scott Cummings.
Arriving on Cummings' doorstep this week to crash on the couch, Dean is set for his first Grand Final experience, having lived abroad for 10 years.
Taking the punt on West Coast making the last Saturday in September after the round nine win over Richmond in Perth, Dean forked out for the all-inclusive Grand Final package.
Now coaching the Great Britain Bulldogs' representative, Dean will be looking for any insights into the MCG before returning for upcoming International Cups.
