With the AFL Grand Final imminent, fans and footy lovers are starting to get themselves organised for one of the biggest days in the calendar.
Set to return to the MCG for the first time since the 2019 decider between Richmond and the Giants, the home of football will expect 100,000 plus supporters on the 24th of September.
The past two seasons saw the grand final be played in Brisbane and Perth due to COVID-19, an unprecedented occurrence given the long-standing relationship dating back to 1901.
Where will the Grand Final be played?
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
When is the AFL Grand Final?
Saturday, September 24.
What time is the AFL Grand Final?
The 2022 AFL Grand Final will be on at 2:30pm AEST (12:30pm AWST / 2:00pm ACST).
How to watch the AFL Grand Final?
Channel 7 will broadcast the match.
Who is playing in the AFL Grand Final?
Geelong vs. Sydney.
Who will umpire the AFL Grand Final?
Matt Stevic, Brendan Hosking and Simon Meredith have been announced as the umpires for this year's clash, with Hayden Gavine on standby as emergency.
For Stevic (10) and Meredith (8), it will be another chance on the biggest stage, while for Hosking, he'll be making his maiden grand final appearance.
Where do I get tickets for the AFL Grand Final?
You're pretty much out of luck if you haven't already got one.
Club member ballots are long gone, as are the MCC allocations.
What is the AFL Grand Final Parade?
This year's AFL Grand Final Parade will feature players heading down the Yarra River on boats, in a revamped tradition on September 23 (grand final eve).
The parade will finish at Gate 3 of the MCG where both sides will be presented on stage in front of fans and supporters.
"The new Parade route recognises that fewer people are at their CBD workplaces on the public holiday. It will allow more fans to get better vantage points of their favourite players, accommodating families in and around the football precinct," AFL GM Customer/Commercial Kylie Rogers said.
What is the AFL Grand Final entertainment?
Headlined by international sensation Robbie Williams and special guest Delta Goodrem, the AFL Grand Final entertainment is all Australian acts, with the league excited by the prospect of all home-grown performances.
In a bid to boost the spectacle, five acts will join Williams on one of the biggest days of the year, performing pre-game and at half-time.
From icon Mike Brady with 'Up There Cazaly' to ARIA award-winning artist Katie Noonan for the National Anthem, the crowd are in for a real treat come the last Saturday in September.
Joining Brady and Noonan is G Flip (aka Georgia Flipo) and bands Goanna and The Temper Trap to round out the performers.
What happens if the AFL Grand Final is a draw?
If both teams have the same score at the end of the fourth quarter, the goal umpires will confer to make sure that both scores are identical.
If a drawn result is confirmed, then both teams will have a six-minute break before the game will resume with two three-minute halves.
Teams will change ends at the end of the first three-minute half, but there will be no break, with play immediately resuming once the players are set.
If the scores are still tied at the end of the two three-minute halves, the process of playing another two three-minute halves will be repeated until a winner is found.
Sides will be given an additional 10 interchanges during the extra-time periods, not including their one medical substitute for the match.
The rules were changed after Collingwood and St Kilda drew in 2010, with both clubs having to return the following Saturday to play out an entire match.
Past AFL Grand Final winners
| Year | Winner |
| 2021 | Melbourne |
| 2020 | Richmond |
| 2019 | Richmond |
| 2018 | West Coast |
| 2017 | Richmond |
| 2016 | Western Bulldogs |
| 2015 | Hawthorn |
| 2014 | Hawthorn |
| 2013 | Hawthorn |
| 2012 | Sydney |
| 2011 | Geelong |
| 2010 | Collingwood |
| 2009 | Geelong |
| 2008 | Hawthorn |
| 2007 | Geelong |
| 2006 | West Coast |
| 2005 | Sydney |
| 2004 | Port Adelaide |
| 2003 | Brisbane |
| 2002 | Brisbane |
| 2001 | Brisbane |
| 2000 | Essendon |
What is the Norm Smith Medal?
The Norm Smith Medal is an award given to the player who is judged to be best on ground during an AFL Grand Final.
Voted by an independent panel of football experts, the Medal was introduced in 1979 to honour former Melbourne icon Norm Smith.
Smith played 227 games (210 - Melbourne, 17 - Fitzroy) Melbourne and coached a total of 452 matches (310 - Melbourne, 87 - South Melbourne, 55 - Fitzroy).
During his time at the Demons, Smith took the club to six premierships as coach between 1955-1964.
Smith was named coach of the AFL Team of the Century and was elevated to Legend Status in 2007, writes AFL.com.au.
Norm Smith Medal Voting
The voting for this prestigious award usually comprises of five football experts (past players, media personalities, journalists) who gives a 3-2-1 as they regard who is best afield.
Of those five, one is regarded as the designated panel chair, who will decide the winner if there's a tie after two rounds of countbacks.
Andrew McLeod (chairperson) leads a panel of five voters, including recently retired Fremantle player David Mundy, Jonathon Brown, Abbey Holmes and Michael Gleeson.
Past winners
| Year | Club | Player |
| 2021 | Melbourne | Christian Petracca |
| 2020 | Richmond | Dustin Martin |
| 2019 | Richmond | Dustin Martin |
| 2018 | West Coast | Luke Shuey |
| 2017 | Richmond | Dustin Martin |
| 2016 | Western Bulldogs | Jason Johannisen |
| 2015 | Hawthorn | Cyril Rioli |
| 2014 | Hawthorn | Luke Hodge |
| 2013 | Hawthorn | Brian Lakw |
| 2012 | Sydney | Ryan O'Keefe |
| 2011 | Geelong | Jimmy Bartel |
| 2010 (replay) | Collingwood | Scott Pendlebury |
| 2010 | St Kilda | Lenny Hayes |
| 2009 | Geelong | Paul Chapman |
| 2008 | Hawthorn | Luke Hodge |
| 2007 | Geelong | Steven Johnson |
| 2006 | West Coast | Andrew Embley |
| 2005 | West Coast | Chris Judd |
| 2004 | Port Adelaide | Byron Pickett |
| 2003 | Brisbane | Simon Black |
| 2002 | Collingwood | Nathan Buckley |
| 2001 | Brisbane | Shaun Hart |
| 2000 | Essendon | James Hird |
What happens if there's a tie?
If two players are tied for votes, a countback will occur.
The player with the higher number of three-votes will win. If that's also tied then:
The player with the higher number of two-votes will win. If that's tied then:
The winner will be decided by the member on the panel chair.
Has there been a tie before?
In the 2009 grand final, Geelong were victorious over St Kilda by 12 points in a famous game.
Paul Chapman (Geelong) and Jason Gram (St Kilda) were tied with nine votes apiece, but the Norm Smith was awarded to Chapman on a countback.
Who is presenting the Norm Smith Medal?
Former Collingwood player and coach Nathan Buckley has been given the honours to present the Norm Smith for this year's AFL Grand Final.
Buckley famously won the Medal in a losing side, when the Pies lost to Brisbane in the decider in 2002.
Who is presenting the AFL premiership cup?
If the Cats win, former skipper Cameron Ling will present the cup, while if Sydney is victorious, club great Paul Kelly will have the honour.
What and when is the AFL Grand Final Sprint?
The AFL Grand Final Sprint is a running race contested by AFL players as part of the entertainment.
Unlike previous years, the Sprint will take place pre-match, rather than at quarter-time.
