Swarms of Magpie supporters in their black-and-white outnumbered the blue-and-white hoops of Geelong, with Collingwood chants coming from passing trams and among the crowds packed into Federation Square.
There was good news for Cats fans as star forward Steve Johnson joined the parade and insisted he was fully fit and would play tomorrow.
Collingwood senior coach Mick Malthouse and captain Nick Maxwell led the Pies parade, followed by this year's Brownlow medallist and crowd favourite Dane Swan.
First year Collingwood player Alex Fasolo, who was a late addition to tomorrow’s team, seemed relaxed ahead of the big game.
Mike Brady serenaded the crowd with his iconic anthem "One Day in September", after changing it to "One Day in October", for obvious reasons.
Children, parents and grandparents alike began lining St Kilda Rd hours before their Grand Final heroes were due to parade in a convoy of cars.
Construction workers at Melbourne’s Art Centre displayed signs reading “Do it for Mick” encouraging the Pies to rally for their coach’s final game.
Office workers took advantage of their high-rise views while one brave Collingwood supporter stood on the veranda roof of 220 Collins Street waving a large Magpies flag.
Even the black clouds threatening rain couldn't dampen the mood of the crowds, with renditions of both club songs being belted out.
The Ince family from Geelong travelled up for the parade and said they were excited to see Joel Selwood.
"I've been supporting Geelong for 30 years, I've grown up in a Geelong family," Sheree Ince said.
"We've got standing room tickets for tomorrow's game and our kids have got seats. Should be a great day."
Bacchus Marsh teenagers Katlyn and Stephanie said they arrived at 9.30am to secure a spot to see their hero Dale Thomas.
Pies fans will be hoping to see a repeat of last season's glory, while Cats supporters are hopeful of taking out their third premiership in five years in tomorrow's eagerly anticipated Grand Final at the MCG.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle urged fans and families looking to entertain the kids during the school holidays to come into town and take the opportunity to see their sporting heroes close-up.
"It is just a great event for families to come into the city and cheer on our Grand Final, one of the great events of the sporting calendar of Australia," he said.
The parade kicked off at midday, commencing at St Kilda Rd, near the Victorian Arts Centre, before heading on to Swanston St and turning right onto Collins St.
It finished on the steps of the Old Treasury building, where the teams were presented to the public.
While captain Cameron Ling, having never experienced life at any other AFL club, was unable to articulate what it was that meant the Cats had been able to break the mould and have sustained success for longer than usual, Scott was much better placed to comment.
"Every situation is different and i think it's important you don't try to replicate situations you've seen be successful in the past," Scott said.
"But there are two things that really strike me about the Geelong footy club one is the competitiveness of the people, not just the players, but the coaches and the administrators.
"And the humility of the club as well unbelievably successful football club in the modern era, but I don't get a sense from any individual within the club that they are bigger than anyone else. I hope that continues while I'm involved at the Geelong footy club.
"The competitiveness of the players has been the thing over and above everything else that's got the Geelong footy club into this position."
Ling said it was the strength of characters among the playing group that had kept Geelong near the top for so long.
"I do know that we've got some fantastic leaders and some fantastic characters within the group that really put the team above themselves at all times, and are constantly looking to improve and wanting to be number one, which is where we aim to be tomorrow," Ling said.
Scott said Geelong's win over Collingwood in Round 24 had been reviewed, but had not played a big part of the preparation for this week.
"Coaches review it pretty hard, but we certainly didn't show the players too much this week," he said.
"We said before the game and we said after the game that Round 24 was pretty much irrelevant, and we needed to work on a few things about our game, but we've pretty much disregarded Collingwood's form."
There was good news for Cats fans as star forward Steve Johnson joined the parade and insisted he was fully fit and would play tomorrow.
Collingwood senior coach Mick Malthouse and captain Nick Maxwell led the Pies parade, followed by this year's Brownlow medallist and crowd favourite Dane Swan.
First year Collingwood player Alex Fasolo, who was a late addition to tomorrow’s team, seemed relaxed ahead of the big game.
Mike Brady serenaded the crowd with his iconic anthem "One Day in September", after changing it to "One Day in October", for obvious reasons.
Children, parents and grandparents alike began lining St Kilda Rd hours before their Grand Final heroes were due to parade in a convoy of cars.
Construction workers at Melbourne’s Art Centre displayed signs reading “Do it for Mick” encouraging the Pies to rally for their coach’s final game.
Office workers took advantage of their high-rise views while one brave Collingwood supporter stood on the veranda roof of 220 Collins Street waving a large Magpies flag.
Even the black clouds threatening rain couldn't dampen the mood of the crowds, with renditions of both club songs being belted out.
The Ince family from Geelong travelled up for the parade and said they were excited to see Joel Selwood.
"I've been supporting Geelong for 30 years, I've grown up in a Geelong family," Sheree Ince said.
"We've got standing room tickets for tomorrow's game and our kids have got seats. Should be a great day."
Bacchus Marsh teenagers Katlyn and Stephanie said they arrived at 9.30am to secure a spot to see their hero Dale Thomas.
Pies fans will be hoping to see a repeat of last season's glory, while Cats supporters are hopeful of taking out their third premiership in five years in tomorrow's eagerly anticipated Grand Final at the MCG.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle urged fans and families looking to entertain the kids during the school holidays to come into town and take the opportunity to see their sporting heroes close-up.
"It is just a great event for families to come into the city and cheer on our Grand Final, one of the great events of the sporting calendar of Australia," he said.
The parade kicked off at midday, commencing at St Kilda Rd, near the Victorian Arts Centre, before heading on to Swanston St and turning right onto Collins St.
It finished on the steps of the Old Treasury building, where the teams were presented to the public.
While captain Cameron Ling, having never experienced life at any other AFL club, was unable to articulate what it was that meant the Cats had been able to break the mould and have sustained success for longer than usual, Scott was much better placed to comment.
"Every situation is different and i think it's important you don't try to replicate situations you've seen be successful in the past," Scott said.
"But there are two things that really strike me about the Geelong footy club one is the competitiveness of the people, not just the players, but the coaches and the administrators.
"And the humility of the club as well unbelievably successful football club in the modern era, but I don't get a sense from any individual within the club that they are bigger than anyone else. I hope that continues while I'm involved at the Geelong footy club.
"The competitiveness of the players has been the thing over and above everything else that's got the Geelong footy club into this position."
Ling said it was the strength of characters among the playing group that had kept Geelong near the top for so long.
"I do know that we've got some fantastic leaders and some fantastic characters within the group that really put the team above themselves at all times, and are constantly looking to improve and wanting to be number one, which is where we aim to be tomorrow," Ling said.
Scott said Geelong's win over Collingwood in Round 24 had been reviewed, but had not played a big part of the preparation for this week.
"Coaches review it pretty hard, but we certainly didn't show the players too much this week," he said.
"We said before the game and we said after the game that Round 24 was pretty much irrelevant, and we needed to work on a few things about our game, but we've pretty much disregarded Collingwood's form."
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