AFL grand final 2018 live: West Coast vs Collingwood

10:19am

Grand final fever on Antarctica

10:16am

Dedicated Eagles

Another super grand final day yarn, this time from Anna Prytz. She spoke to a couple of Eagles fans who drove 39 hours from Perth to Melbourne for the game. Incredible.

10:02am

Jeremy McGovern update

By AAP

West Coast's star defender Jeremy McGovern is tipped to play in Saturday's AFL grand final against Collingwood after overcoming a hip injury.

McGovern, who was hurt in last weekend's preliminary final win, had a fitness test on Friday.

Speaking before the test, Eagles coach Adam Simpson expected McGovern to be cleared to front against the Magpies in the premiership decider at the MCG

"Someone like Gov, he just gets up. It's just making sure it's up enough to play in a grand final," Simpson said. McGovern's fitness is the sole doubt hovering over the two sides featuring in a grand final to be contested in cool conditions - Melbourne's temperature is forecast to reach 14C with morning rain predicted to clear by the 2.30pm AEST start.

9:53am

MCC update

9:45am

De Goey's salvation

Another cracking story. This one from Michael Gleeson. It's about how Jordan De Goey has been as influential at the Salvation Army working with homeless people as he has been for Collingwood's on field fortunes.

9:31am

Back to the MCC

Earlier we showed a photo from my cousin who was one of the first into the MCG this morning via the MCC. Here's another look at the rush for seats once the gate opened at 8am.

These people all burst out of the gates ... unlike Chautauqa last night.

9:27am

Grand final coverage ...

We nailed it, if I may say so myself. The Age's Real Footy team has produced a brilliant grand final day edition. I'll share some of the best stuff through the morning.

Top of the list is Jake Niall's look at how Nathan Buckley turned things around. It involves yoga and Japanese philosophy.

9:11am

Omen?

9:01am

Seating situations ...

There are already people inside the MCG. My 15-year-old cousin Adrian Mazzarella managed to get his hands on an MCC guest pass. He is a Pies supporter.

So, he lined up outside the MCC at 5am and at about 8:15am managed to grab himself a seat (pictured below), along with a few thousand other dedicated fans.

8:51am

The weather

It's very important. A wet day would favour the Pies, and a dry day sees things pretty even. If anything it means the Eagles talls Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling get to play in their prime conditions, same goes for American Pie Mason Cox.

Our reporter Rachael Dexter has the latest on the weather here.