1)      Ablett tipped to win second Brownlow

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett has been the favourite to win this year’s Brownlow Medal for months; in just a few hours the 2009 winner might add another ‘Chas’ to his collection.

Geelong’s Joel Selwood, Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell, and Collingwood duo Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury are tipped to be Ablett’s greatest threats, in what is expected to be a close and exciting count.

Footy’s so called ‘night of nights’ will be accompanied by the usual ‘glitz and glamour’ that surrounds the event. While players will be wearing the stock-standard tuxedos and black ties, their partners’ outfits promise to be far more eye-catching.

Honouring the game’s best and fairest player is a great way to kick off the biggest week of the AFL season.

2)      Hawks break the curse

At long last, the ‘Kennett curse’ has been broken. Friday night’s preliminary final between Hawthorn and Geelong was one of the most built-up games in memory and certainly didn’t disappoint.

After 11 consecutive victories against the Hawks, the Cats squandered a 20-point three-quarter-time lead to fall less than a kick short of victory.

Only a tie at the final siren would have allowed a more dramatic finish. Had Travis Varcoe’s late shot at goal come off the boot a little cleaner, footy supporters might well have been treated to extra time.

Instead, the Hawks maintained the ball in their forward line, where the noise of the Hawthorn faithful drowned out the final siren. Veterans Sam Mitchell and Shaun Burgoyne were instrumental in the victory, while Steve Johnson and Joel Selwood battled gallantly for the Cats.

3)      Fremantle earns a chance at the big dance

For the first time in the club’s 19-year history Fremantle will play in the Grand Final. The Dockers’ relentless pressure was far more impressive than the final 25-point margin suggests. Fremantle’s first half was particularly imposing – Sydney was simply given no time or space in which to use the ball.

The likes of Nathan Fyfe and David Mundy led the way in the midfield, while Chris Mayne’s pressure in the forward half said plenty about the Dockers’ attitude. Mayne finished with a career-high 13 tackles.

4)      Bolton hangs up the boots

Fremantle’s Preliminary Final win signalled the end for one of the game’s great competitors, Sydney’s Jude Bolton. It’s hard to think of a more emblematic player of the Bloods’ culture than the 33-year-old Swan, who has laid more tackles than anyone in the history of the game.

There are many players in the AFL who are more skilled and polished, but few so highly respected. Though he would have loved to finish his career in a Grand Final, Bolton was given a fitting send off. The Dockers’ players formed a guard of honour for Bolton as he left the ground, while the Fremantle crowd stood and applauded the 325-game, dual premiership star.

5)      The build-up begins

Hawthorn and Fremantle have proven to be the two best sides in the competition, but as always, Saturday’s match will contain a handful of fascinating individual battles.

For one, the best two coaches of the modern era will go head to head. Alastair Clarkson is the game’s most innovative tactician, while Ross Lyon is arguably the best in the league at crafting hard-nosed, disciplined sides that know how to win ugly. Despite their plaudits, they’ve won just one premiership between them. Hawthorn has been the best side of the last two years, so it would seem just if Clarkson managed to win a second premiership. Having said that, it’s hard to argue a Lyon victory wouldn’t be deserved. St Kilda was in front in time-on in two Grand Finals and played off in a third – yet Lyon has no silverware to show for it.

Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley took another scalp in the Preliminary Final – keeping Kieren Jack to just 11 disposals – and will likely be preparing for a dual with Hawthorn midfield maestro Sam Mitchell, who heads into the Grand Final fresh from an incredible 38-possession, 11-clearance performance. It shapes as one of Saturday’s most intriguing and important match-ups.

It’s been more than a hundred years since two brothers played against one another in a Grand Final – but it will happen on Saturday. The Hill brothers – Stephen (Fremantle) and Brad (Hawthorn) – have a proven ability to split games open with pace and creative ball use. Originally from Western Australia, the brothers will have a chance to strut their stuff on the MCG.

More individual stories will arise as the week goes on – each of which will add to Saturday’s narrative as the Hawks and Dockers go head to head in the biggest game of the year.