A ROLLING mass of Hawthorn and Fremantle fans have flooded the Melbourne CBD for the Grand Final Parade on Friday.

 

In contrast to the day's wild weather, a blue sky and bright sunshine greeted droves of fans, which featured a particularly strong and vocal Dockers presence.

 

In fact, there was little sign that the event took place in the Hawks' home state, with regular slow chants of "Freee-o! Freee-o!" It was reminiscent of the Collingwood version, and almost as overwhelming.

 

And many fans, the majority of them being of the purple persuasion, marked the occasion with family photographs, just to show they were there for the parade before their club's first Grand Final appearance.

 

The parade started outside the Arts Centre in St Kilda Road and moved north into Swanston Street, before turning east into Collins Street and ending at the Old Treasury building in Spring Street, where the two teams were presented to the crowd.

 

The entire route was lined with people on both sides, and was about 20-deep at the intersection of Swanston and Collins streets where the cavalcade turned towards its destination.

 

The keenest fans had assumed their prized positions along the barriers a couple of hours before the parade even started.

 

The masses proudly wore their club colours, waved flags, held up signs, and clapped, screamed and cheered as their heroes, and enemies, rolled by.

Two players were seated in the back of each white Toyota utility, with club-coloured balloons attached to the cab in front of them and bouncing around in the breeze.

 

Although many players might have preferred to have been elsewhere to focus on the game ahead, most seemed to enjoy the occasion.

 

Some players also took their children – including some babies – along for the ride. Indeed, it was a huge communal moment to share.

 

Many people tried to gain elevated views of proceedings, and their methods differed markedly. Small children sat atop their father's shoulders, people milled on balconies adorned with club colours, while other desperadoes mounted any structure that appeared capable of taking their bodyweight.

 

There were even a few dogs wearing club guernseys – although such displays of allegiance were no doubt lost on the poor panting pooches, who appeared a little hot and bothered.

 

Despite the joyous, bi-partisan atmosphere, there were still plenty of reminders that a tribal battle would be fought a little over 24 hours later.

 

Some playful heckles were aimed at players on both sides, which caused much amusement among opposing fans.

 

Not surprisingly, Freo antagonists Ryan Crowley and Hayden Ballantyne attracted much attention – a combination of cheers and jeers – but both accepted it all with a smile and a wave. It's unlikely they would have heard many of the individual comments over the general din anyway.

 

"Give it to 'em, 'Ballaz,'" one old Dockers fan encouraged.

 

An even older Hawk responded: "You better get in quick, Ballantyne, because we'll sure as hell give it to you."

 

A teenage Hawk: "Yeah, have you got the 'Ballaz' to do that?"

 

Crowley, the Dockers chief tagger who is likely to get the job on Hawks champ Sam Mitchell, seemed particularly amused by the focus on him. The poor teammate seated beside Crowley was Chris Mayne.

"Hey Crowley, you should have 'Mitch' in there with you," yelled one Freo fan.

 

A Hawk screamed: "You couldn't tie Mitch's bootlaces, Crowley."

 

Freo fan: "But he won’t let the ball hit Mitchell's bootlaces."

 

Dockers midfielder Stephen Hill and his brother, Hawk speedster Bradley, will become the first brothers in 101 years to play against each other in a grand final, prompting a Freo fan to loudly observe: "Stephen, you’re the real Hill; your brother's a molehill."

 

And so it went.

 

Hawthorn's emerging cult figure, the long-haired and bearded Matt Spangher, was joined by golden child Cyril Rioli, but seemed to attract just as many fans. Imagine the reaction if Spangher actually made the side – he has been named one of Hawthorn's three emergencies.

 

The premiership cup was transported like an ancient artifact, encased in perspex atop a stretcher carried by lucky volunteers. The stretcher was covered with a sheet emblazoned with the AFL's finals slogan: "Witness Greatness." Most present seemed to agree they were witnessing just that.

 

Dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett and talented Gold Coast teammate Jaeger O'Meara, this year's NAB AFL Rising Star, were the first players to enter the parade.

 

The grand final umpires occupied five vehicles themselves.

 

The City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band, decked out in traditional Scottish kilts and playing bagpipes, featured a young female member who was conspicuous for wearing a Hawthorn scarf.

 

There was more music at the Old Treasury building, where Mike Brady performed his signature tunes One Day In September and Up There Cazaly, to a chorus of raucous backing singers.

 

It was a timely release of pent-up energy that will certainly be replenished overnight and reach fever-pitch by game time.