PEOPLE waved flags by the dozens, brandished home-made banners – 'You beaudy Tigers' – and one fan even held aloft a Crows-themed beach towel.
Anything went on this day, one of the most traditional and gloriously happy on the Australian sporting calendar.
Whether the AFL's Grand Final Parade warrants a public holiday is a discussion for another day.
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Football is a religion in these parts, and none of the 100,000-plus in attendance seemed too upset to be there rather than behind a desk.
One bespectacled bloke even hung over a Spring St barricade with a black-and-yellow Werribee Tigers guernsey over the top of a Melbourne Storm one. He was just there for the party.
The Storm, of course, has a Grand Final of its own to win on Sunday, long after one of Richmond or Adelaide, Damien Hardwick or Don Pyke, holds the AFL premiership cup aloft.
But before all that came the multi-pronged celebration, because it is a celebration – the Tigers haven't been in this territory for 35 long years. Even the Crows, back-to-back premiers in 1997 and 1998, haven't been back until now.
Damien Hardwick and Dustin Martin take in the massive crowd on Friday. Picture: AFL Photos
Their most loyal followers – from babies to toddlers, one riding her mum's shoulders in a yellow-and-black Pokemon hat, to those well past retirement age – stamped, cheered and bellowed for their AFL heroes.
Some manned the barricades, others were 20 metres deep, depending on how early you were willing to arrive. Reports surfaced of some lining up at 10pm on Thursday night.
There were also plum spots on balconies in Alcaston House and the Old Treasury Building Museum. Many had their mobile phones out, just like at a concert, to treasure the moment again back home.
Tigers fans had waited a long, long time to be part of a Grand Final parade. Picture: AFL Photos
None of the players from either team had been through this experience before.
There is playing in front of 90,000-plus, and then there is riding a motorcade along Melbourne's streets with manic fans flanking them and a media throng having full access to their thoughts.
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Factor in the bagpipes, drums, dancers and entertainers dressed in sumo costumes with Richmond or Adelaide colours, and you can forgive them for thinking they are still dreaming.
This was an oversized occasion designed to be exactly that.
The Crows fans were outnumbered, but no less passionate. Picture: AFL Photos
Tigers midfielder Dion Prestia was a Gold Coast Sun with one foot out the door this time last year who only dared to play finals this year. Instead, his first Grand Final Parade experience involved him riding a motorcade.
"I just don't really know what to expect at the moment," Prestia told AFL.com.au.
"I've never really watched the Grand Final Parade or been to one. I'll just embrace as much as I can and try to remember as much of it as I can – that's my plan for today.
"Then, once we get home, it will just be a normal lead-in to a game."
As normal as possible, anyway.
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Prestia and every other player and coach on this wild ride know once the party ends, the real stuff is still to play out. Then, an even bigger celebration awaits.
Captains Trent Cotchin and Taylor Walker capped the parade by jointly holding the premiership cup in an orchestrated shot that means something only to media and fans.
Only one of them gets to hold it for real on Saturday.
