Premiership player parade.

Cameron Ling of the Geelong Cats acknowledges fans on Collins Street during a parade through Melbourne CBD on a perfect spring day. The AFL is in its 150th year and wisely maintains traditions that puts players within reach of their fans. School holidays began this week so kids in Hawthorn brown & yellow and Geelong blue & white were everywhere. Fans flocked to Flinders and Swanston, near the parade's start.
The AFL has no cheerleaders, and before the parade began, these girls showed the wisdom of that dictum.
The Carlton Draught Clydesdales! On loan from Budweiser, perhaps?
The wail of bagpipes confirmed that this was, in fact, a right parade.
The Premiership cup glows in sunlight.
2008 Brownlow medalist Adam Cooney of the Western Bulldogs.
Shane Crawford has played 17 seasons without competing in a final. Defending premiers Geelong are tipped to win, but Crawford makes Hawthorn sentimental favorites.
Cheerleaders? No. Mascots? Yes.
Parade favorite Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who led the league in scoring.
The parade ended at the Treasury Building, where team captains Sam Mitchell of the Hawks and Tom Harley of the Cats addressed a sun-baked crowd.