The AFL is currently mulling a bold new look to the traditional Grand Final Parade this year, which could include a boat ride down the Yarra River.
It's understood the parade would start at Federation Square and could include a loop between the Princes Bridge and Swan Street Bridge before exiting the river at Birrarung Marr.
Players would then disembark into utes, travel to the MCG, and present to fans in the traditional pre-game manner.
"We're working on that," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Thursday.
"It might be a bit more family-friendly, sitting on grass, leading into Yarra Park.
"The city at the moment, you've got to close sections off and it's not as comfortable for the possibilities for inclusion. So we're looking at different stuff."
The league have scheduled four AFLW matches for the Friday preceding the AFL Grand Final, with two matches at Punt Road, one at Princes Park and one at the AIA Centre.
The quartet of fixtures add to an exciting schedule building for the AFL's final weekend of the season.
"That Friday before the grand final, there'll be a festival here in Yarra Park," McLachlan added.
"There's gonna be four women's games going on that afternoon. So that public holiday, first grand final back in Melbourne for three years... it's going to be massive."
The parade has not been held in Melbourne for the past two seasons, with the 2020 Grand Final being taken to Brisbane and the 2021 event being taken to Perth.
The inclusion of boats and the Yarra River would also rejuvenate the event by creating a fifth route taken by the AFL for the Grand Final Parade since it was first held in 1977.
The match itself will be returning to its traditional 2:30pm time slot this season, with pop megastar Robbie Williams to feature in the pre-game entertainment.
