What’s on in AFL Grand Final Week: How to watch and everything you need to know

The AFL Grand Final is not just a one day event, it is a week long footy celebration. Scroll down for a preview of all the lead up to one of Australian sport’s biggest days on Saturday 24 September.

David Gavin

3 min read

September 20, 2022 - 4:39PM

Final touches are completed on the 2022 AFL Premiership Cup this week. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

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The week began with Carlton’s Patrick Cripps being awarded the Brownlow Medal and, both Geelong and Sydney have already had open training sessions ahead of Saturday, but there is so much more to come including the return of the Grand Final Parade with a new twist.

Watch AFL Grand Final week here on Kayo and scroll down for all the news and information you need to know this week. Get the latest odds for Saturday with CODE Bet.

Footy Festival

Virgin Australia Footy Festival (21-24 September) begins at the Yarra Park precinct outside the MCG with family friendly entertainment including giveaways, player signings, kids activities, NAB AFL Auskick clinics, inflatables, food trucks, a licensed bar and live music.

Wednesday 21 September, 10.00am – 5.00pm (AEST)

Thursday 22 September, 10.00am – 5.00pm (AEST)

Friday 23 September, 10.00am – 5.30pm (AEST)

Saturday 24 September, 8.00am – 7.00pm (AEST)

The main event between Geelong and Sydney will be shown on the big screens at Yarra Park.

Now Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Cripps with the kids at the AFL Footy Festival site in 2019. Picture: David Crosling

Under 18 National Championships

The final between Victoria Metro and Vic Country will be held on Thursday at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium starting 12.35pm (AEST), 12.05pm (ACST) and 10.35pm (AWST) live on Kayo.

Vic Metro player Ryan Byrnes against the Allies in June. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

AFLW round five

In and around the Grand Final is a full round of nine AFLW matches starting Thursday following the Under 18s decider, including a match on Grand Final morning at Punt Road, all live on Kayo.

Thursday 22 September

West Coast Eagles v. Fremantle Dockers, Optus Stadium, starting 3.10pm (AEST), 2.40pm (ACST) and 1.10pm (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Geelong Cats v. St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium, starting 5.10pm (AEST), 4.40pm (ACST) and 3.10pm (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Friday 23 September (Victorian Public Holiday)

Western Bulldogs v. Kangaroos, Swinburne Centre, Punt Road, Melbourne starting 12.40pm (AEST), 12.10pm (ACST) and 10.40am (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Collingwood v. Essendon, AIA Centre, Melbourne, starting 3.10pm (AEST), 2.40pm (ACST) and 1.10pm (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Sydney Swans v. Hawthorn, Swinburne Centre, Punt Road, Melbourne starting 5.10pm (AEST), 4.40pm (ACST) and 3.10pm (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Carlton v. Melbourne, Ikon Park, Carlton, starting 7.30pm (AEST), 7.00pm (ACST) and 5.30pm (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Saturday 24 September

Richmond v. Brisbane Lions, Swinburne Centre, Punt Road, Melbourne starting 11.10am (AEST), 10.40am (ACST) and 9.10am (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Brisbane Lions meet the Richmond Tigers on Grand Final morning just minutes walk from the MCG. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Sunday 25 September

Gold Coast Suns v. Port Adelaide, Bond University, Gold Coast starting 1.10pm (AEST), 12.40pm (ACST) and 11.10am (AWST). Live on Kayo.

Adelaide Crows v. GWS Giants, Unley Oval, Adelaide starting 3.10pm (AEST), 2.40pm (ACST) and 1.10pm (AWST). Live on Kayo.

The Grand Final Parade

The Grand Final Parade returns for the first time in three years following Covid restrictions for the previous two Grand Finals in Brisbane and Perth.

The Parade will begin with a boat parade on the Yarra followed by the traditional motorcade through the Footy Festival at the MCG. It will conclude at Gate 3 of the MCG.

And for the first time it will start in the morning at 10.30am (AEST), 10.00am (ACST) and 8.30am (AWST), shown live on Fox Footy at Kayo.

Richmond’s David Astbury with Jack Riewoldt during the 2019 parade. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

AFL Grand Final Breakfast

The exclusive annual North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast also returns for the first time since 2019, in its 56th year, broadcast live on Fox Footy at Kayo.

The event has historically attracted some of the biggest AFL and Australian sporting identities, celebrities and politicians which this year includes musician Diesel and AFL greats Jonathon Brown, Jarryd Roughead and Cam Mooney with Nick Riewoldt hosting an exclusive one-on-one with outgoing AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.

Gillon McLachlan speaks to the media recently after securing the AFL’s $4.5 billion TV broadcast deal for the next seven years. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

AFL Grand Final Longest Kick

Details of participants are yet to be confirmed for the annual Longest Kick to be shown live on Kayo from 11.00am (AEST), 10.30am (ACST) and 9.00am (AWST).