Huge crowd for GF parade, Matera in doubt

Thousands of fans have flocked to the streets of Melbourne, for the annual AFL Grand Final Parade.

A sea of blue and gold combined with red and white made for an impressive crowd, as players and coaches were paraded through the city.

Despite the fact that a numerous amount of Eagles fans made the trek across the Nullarbor, the general feel of the parade saw home-town support going Sydney’s way.

Sydney coach Paul Roos said the Swans were always mindful of their relationship with South Melbourne.

"The club's extremely respectful of it," Roos said.

"We do as much as we can to support our Melbourne fans."

"The players would have come along today - as Barry and I would have - been really surprised at the turn-out. But support from both teams - great from the Swans but also great from the Eagles fans."

After the parade, coaches and skippers from both sides joined together for the final pre-match media conference.

The conference had a laid-back feeling to it, and a feeling of anticipation as we build up to football’s biggest day.

In other news today;

The West Coast Eagles could contest the Grand Final without star small forward Phil Matera, after he only just got through the training session at the MCG this afternoon.

Matera, who has won the Eagles goalkicking award four times, would be a massive loss with West Coast already lacking firepower in their forward line and often relying on midfielders to get forward and kick goals.

Matera has missed the past two matches after a torn abductor muscle suffered in West Coast’s victory over Sydney at Subiaco three weeks ago.

The goalsneak’s body language was poor throughout the training session, and with Matera’s record of just one goal in six finals games, the Eagles may overlook him.

Kasey Green is considered as the most likely replacement for Matera, with ex-Magpie Damien Adkins also a chance to play on Football’s greatest day.

West Coast coach John Worsfold admitted that Matera may miss out.

“He has to get through training first, which I am very confident he will do, and then it's a big call as to whether we stick with him in the line-up," Worsfold said of Matera, whose brother Peter was the Norm Smith Medallist in the Eagles' first premiership win in 1992.

"Whether we think he (Matera) can get through the game - that will be the hardest call (but) we are not going to play him if there is a slight risk he won't get through the game."

If Matera does not play, the Eagles will be missing their two leading goalkickers for the 2005 season with Quentin Lynch (31 goals) on the sidelines due to omission.

Matera would be stiff to miss out on a game, as he has been an integral part of the Eagles forward line ever since joining the club in the AFL’s centenary year of 1996.

For the best coverage of Grand Final Day, keep logging onto SportsAustralia.com!

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