Climate protesters have stopped the AFL’s Grand Final Parade by lying down on the road ahead of the motorcade.
The AFL’s traditional ceremony presenting the players to adoring fans was briefly halted on Friday morning due to the demonstration.
Three people wearing shirts emblazoned with “you can’t play in 50 degrees” broke through the barricades to lie down ahead of the ute carrying the premiership cup.
Security guards acted quickly with helicopter footage showing the demonstrators being dragged away from the parade so the motorcade could continue through the streets of Melbourne.
The state is enjoying its traditional Friday before the Grand Final public holiday and footy fans have flocked to the MCG and surrounds to celebrate the season.
Tens of thousands of fans have lined the streets to wish the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood Magpies’ stars good luck ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final.
The AFL confirmed last week the parade would return to the streets abandoning the disastrous Yarra River parade where players were ferried along on boats with fans stuck on the banks .
Players sat on the back of utes from Melbourne Park Oval slowly making their way along the banks of the river down to Birrarung Marr, over the walk bridge and into the MCG Yarra Park Precinct, finishing at the AFL’s free Footy Festival.
“We were so close, it was awesome,” Pies fan Shaun Leeming told the Herald Sun.
“With it so spread out, there’s more room, normally you are like six or seven rows back but this was a lot better.
“We were able to see everyone go past.”
Along with those lining the streets thousands more were waiting at Yarra Park for the Footy Festival where the players were presented to the crowd.
Entertainment, player meet and greets and other activities are ongoing at the Footy Festival throughout the day.
Earlier on Friday the Pies and the Lions both held a light training session which was open to the fans.
The Lions trained at the MCG in front of about 10,000 loyal supporters while the Pies went through the motions in front of thousands draped in black and white at Olympic Park.
The Grand Final will begin at 2:30pm on Saturday.
(Sky News)
