MELBOURNE Lord Mayor John So has urged footy fans to get along to Federation Square next week to experience the Toyota AFL Grand Final Live Site.
Running from Monday, September 22 to Saturday, September 27, the city centre will transform into a football wonderland with every day featuring a different theme.
Monday’s activities celebrate the tradition of the Brownlow medal, leading into a live broadcast of the event that evening.
“I know a lot of people favour Gary Ablett, but he faces a lot of competition from within his own team,” Lord Mayor So said.
“Given this, I suspect Brent Harvey or Adam Cooney might be worth a look.”
Throughout the week fans will be entertained by former Australian Idols including Ricki-Lee, Dean Geyer and Axle Whitehead and the cast of musical Wicked. The Live site will host free family football activities and feature themed stage shows every day at 12.30pm.
The Toyota AFL Grand Final Experience at Crown Riverside will include free interactive football activities, action on the big screen, appearances by past and current AFL players and live music performances on Crown’s main stage.
The events will lead into Friday’s Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade, starting at the Arts Centre at midday and finishing at the Old Treasury Building, with the captains and coaches of the Grand Final teams presented on stage with the premiership cup.
On Saturday, the Grand Final will be broadcast live on the Federation Square big screen.
As to who the two remaining teams would be, Mayor So said with just three games left, anything could happen.
“Conventional wisdom tells us the Cats look unstoppable, with the Hawks a close second,” he said.
“Of course, the fairytale finish would see Robert Harvey farewelled from the Saints as a premiership player.
“I think the Cats will play in the final, but I'm not so sure who they'll be playing against. One thing's for sure, the side that beats the Cats in the final will have well and truly earned the premiership.”
The Live Site is run in partnership with the City of Melbourne and Federation Square. All visitors will have the chance to win two tickets to the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final. Everyone who gets their Footy Passport (available at the venue) stamped at each of the activities, will automatically go into the draw to win the tickets. The winner will be announced on the main stage at 2pm on Friday, September 26.
Toyota AFL Grand Final Live Site - Monday to Saturday activities at Federation Square:
10-4pm: Meet AFL players at activities around the Square, including Bryce Gibbs (Carlton), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne) and Josh Fraser (Collingwood).
12-2pm: Fashion Parade and tips, supporting young designers Fashion Incubator with appearances by Nathan Brown (Richmond), Mark McVeigh (Essendon), Brendan Fevola (Carlton) and Brodie Holland (Collingwood). There will also be a Brownlow Medal panel with past winners Simon Black and Mark Ricciuto.
10.30-11.30am: NAB AFL Auskick clinic in Birrarung Marr. Players attending include Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton), Bachar Houli (Essendon), Trent Cotchin (Richmond) and Nathan Brown (Collingwood).
12-1.30pm: Main Stage – Appearances by Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, Jason McCartney, Mascot Manor characters and stars from the NAB AFL Rising Star program including this year’s winner Rhys Palmer.
1.30-4pm: Player appearances at various activities including Scott West (Western Bulldogs), Adam Ramanauskas and Angus Monfries (Essendon).
11.30am-12pm: Meet Dean Geyer, Jessica Mauboy and Axle Whitehead.
12.15-1pm: Network Ten’s Australian Idol concert featuring previous finalists.
1.15-1.45pm: Autograph session in the Atrium. Meet singer/songwriter Ricki-Lee signing copies of her new single Wiggle It.
10am-4pm: Meet AFL players at various activities around the square, including Andrew Welsh (Essendon) and Max Bailey (Hawthorn).
12.15-1.45pm: Main Stage – Billy Brownless and Andy Maher host a panel featuring footy legends Wayne Schwass and Anthony Koutoufides, with AFL players Brendan Fevola (Carlton), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle), Jason Akermanis (Western Bulldogs) and Russell Robertson live on guitar.
2-3pm: Meet AFL footballers Aaron Davey and Austin Wonaeamirri (Melbourne) and former Essendon champion Michael Long in the Qantas marquee.
7.30pm: “AFL Teams” Fox Sports live studio.
12-1pm: Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade starting from the Arts Centre and ending at the Old Treasury Building where the presentation of the Grand Final captains and coaches will be held.
2pm: Special performance by the cast of the muscial Wicked.
5pm: “Lovers Electric” live on stage.
6.30pm: “Before the Bounce” Fox Sports live studio.
From 10am: Singer Mike Brady will perform footy’s anthem Up there Cazaly. Meet past and current footballers and the Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Ambassador, Glenn Archer, as he departs on the road to the MCG.
1.30-6pm: Toyota AFL Grand Final live on the big screen.
6-8.30pm: Coca-Cola Zero post Grand Final concert, featuring Gyroscope and support act The Script, with the 2008 Premiership team to be presented on stage.
