SATURDAY may be the last time fans see a Sherrin bounced to start a match, with senior umpire Simon Meredith admitting he wants the tradition scrapped.
An AFL review into the bounce is underway, with a decision set to be made in the near future.
Meredith, who has umpired 314 games including four Grand Finals, said the unnatural action was taking "a great toll" on umpires.
"We've all been doing it for 20 years," he said.
"We've had guys have back surgeries, I've had shoulder operations."
Meredith will be joined by experienced umpires Matt Stevic and Shaun Ryan on the field in the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final, and Stevic said they hadn't decided who would take the opening bounce.
"Shaun's done six and I've done a couple, and I think Simon has done a couple as well, so we'll decide (on) maybe Thursday or on the day and get things away," Stevic said.
"Hopefully it's a straight one."
While the umpires are still unsure of who will begin the match, Meredith made the group's stance on the issue clear.
"It does take its toll, because we don't just roll up and do 10 on the day, (we have) the constant training during the week and the rehab we have to go through," Meredith said.
He said that there was little the umpiring group could do until the review was complete.
"We'll do it while we're told to do it, but we're just asking for it to be reviewed ," he said.
"People with higher pay packets than us have those decisions, we've obviously got some theories, and they're revealing it at the moment, but I suppose we'll do what we're told."
Simon Meredith (l) with fellow Grand Final umpires Matt Stevic and Shaun Ryan. Picture: AFL Photos