Fans will flock together in Melbourne for a chance to catch a glimpse of the AFL heroes who have made it to the grand final.

Players and coaches from the West Coast Eagles and the Collingwood Magpies will wind their way through the city in the annually held parade.

On Thursday, thousands of Pies fans headed to Olympic Park to cheer on the team for their last training session while the Eagles received a standing ovation as they departed Perth Airport.

But it may rain on the fans’ parade with a cool change on the way and the chance of a shower or two on Friday.

It’s also expected to be one of the coldest grand finals in years with a chilly top of 14C.

This is the fourth year a public holiday has been held on grand final eve after the Labor government introduced it in 2015.

The parade, which has been part of the game since 1977, ends at the AFL Grand Final Live Site where West Coast and Collingwood will be presented onstage and the captains will raise the premiership cup.