AFL and Kylie bracing for Melbourne grand final downpour

The AFL is bracing for a cold and wet grand final on Saturday, with up to 10mm of rain forecast for the morning and early afternoon.

After a warm and sunny week in the lead-up, including 25 degrees for Friday's grand final parade, Saturday will be a top of 16 with rain expected during the game and in the lead-up.

The AFL has opted to move the traditional grand final curtain raiser, an under 17s game between the best young talent in the country, from the MCG to Footscray's Whitten Oval out of concern for the rain and potential damage to the turf.

Of course, a wet and windy day has implications for the pre-game entertainment too, headlined by Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue.

The league has not had a wet grand final in a long time, though you would imagine they have planned for Minogue’s show to be moderately weather resistant.

The most recent grand final performers, Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry, did so on stages with no cover, though rain was not forecast. Which is still a risk given weather can change quickly in Melbourne.

The last truly wet AFL grand final came in 2009 on a frigid afternoon, which was 11 degrees, rainy and with a biting wind chill.

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Those conditions didn’t stop Mark Seymour, Jimmy Barnes, and John Farnham from dominating the pre-game entertainment, performing from a stage in the crowd among fans.

The AFL has upped its production value for these shows in the years since, with Kylie set to perform on a grand stage in the middle of the MCG.

A wet game itself doesn’t necessarily hinder either team, though Brisbane loves a fast-paced, high scoring game and prefers to play in chains of uncontested marks, while Fremantle is happier in a more defensive and dour scrap when they can get the game on their terms.

If anything, the rain favours Freo as they will not want a shootout with the Lions, but it's not a factor worth changing your tip over.