Thousands of excited AFL fans defied rainy predictions to line Melbourne’s streets for the grand final parade on Friday.

Players from Fremantle and Brisbane soaked up the festive atmosphere, although there was a smattering of boos for Lions star Lachie Neale along the parade route.

Brisbane is attempting to become just the third side in the last 69 years to complete an AFL premiership three-peat.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is dreaming of taking the Dockers to an elusive first premiership.

“I’ve thought about this moment for a number of years,” Longmuir said. 

“And I think when I first went into coaching, I always had the goal in the back of my mind to lead us to this position and it would fill me with great pride to be able to do that.

“I’ve thought about this moment for a number of years… but if we win tomorrow, it’s not full stop on the journey.

“It’s another moment, big moment, and something that will fill us with enormous pride and our fans will be able to celebrate, but it’s not the end of the journey.”

Some booing could be heard as Lachie Neale made his way through the parade. Photo: AAP

Brisbane veteran Lachie Neale is the only current player left from the Fremantle team that lost the 2013 grand final to Hawthorn — the Dockers’ one previous grand final.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said he had doubted Neale would be cleared for the AFL grand final as “cynical” Longmuir took umbrage with the lengthy process.

But both coaches are happy with the final outcome, with Fagan declaring the dual Brownlow Medal winner’s availability “good for footy”.

Dockers Captain Alex Pearce and Lions co-captain Josh Dunkley hold the AFL Grand Final Trophy. Photo: AAP

Neale will feature in the premiership decider against Fremantle — his former club — at the MCG on Saturday after having a one-game ban for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan downgraded in a drama-filled hearing on Thursday.

Neale was instead fined $10,000 as the appeals board gave the four-time All Australian midfielder the ultimate reprieve due to having never previously been suspended in his decorated 320-game AFL career.

“I didn’t think he would (get off),” Fagan told reporters on Friday.

“It was a bit like last year, I didn’t think he was going to play last year until the day before the game when he got through a fitness test.

“So it’s sort of history repeating itself, just in a different way. Good for footy I reckon but we were pretty much ready for him not to be playing, I must admit.”

Longmuir expected Neale to be cleared all along, although he thought the decision would have come earlier in the week.

“I’m a bit cynical with these things. Sometimes I feel like that’s the outcome that gets reached a little bit later than what I thought it would get reached,” the Dockers coach said.

“We prepared for Brisbane’s best and he’s clearly in their best team.”

-with AAP