THE 2016 AFL Grand Final will start at 2.30pm AEST on Saturday, October 1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

The Grand Final traditionally takes place on the last Saturday in September. This year’s Grand Final will be the 28th in October in VFL/AFL history and the second in a row, after the 2015 season started later to accommodate the Cricket World Cup, held at AFL venues in February and March.  

Starting times for those watching around the world:
United Kingdom: 5.30am, Saturday
Europe: 6.30am, Saturday (western); 7.30am, Saturday (eastern)
USA: 9.30pm, Friday (west coast); 12.30am, Saturday (east coast)
Dubai: 8.30am, Saturday
New Zealand: 5.30pm, Saturday
Thailand: 11.30am, Saturday
Japan: 1.30pm, Saturday
Bali: 12.30pm, Saturday

Who is performing at the Grand Final?
UK rocker Sting will join Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy and homegrown rockers The Living End as the feature acts of the Virgin Australia pre-game show. Joy, who topped the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2013 with his hit 'Riptide', confirmed the news by joining a Twitter Q & A with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.

Vance Joy and The Living End will perform at the Virgin Australia premiership party, from 6-8pm. Entry is free; enter from gates 5, 6 and 7.

TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL, MCG
8am                           Melbourne Cricket Club gates open
9.30am                      General public gates open
1.29pm                      Welcome to Country by Uncle Bill Nicholson
1.30pm                      Retiring greats and award winners' motorcade
1.33pm                      Mike Brady performs One Day in October
1.37pm                      Vance Joy performs
1.45pm                      The Living End performs
1.53pm                      Sting performs
2.04pm                      Virgin Australia Flyover
2.12pm                      Umpires enter arena
2.14-2.17pm              Teams enter
2.25pm                      Premiership cup delivered
2.26pm                      National anthem performed by Vika and Linda Bull
2.30pm                      Match starts
3.45pm                      NAB AFL Auskick and final of 13CABS Grand Final sprint
5.15pm                      Final siren, followed by the presentation of the Norm Smith Medal (by Shannon Grant), the Jock McHale Medal (by Leigh Matthews), premiership medallions (by NAB AFL Auskick participants) and the premiership cup (to be presented by a club legend)
6.15pm                      Virgin Australia premiership party
6.20pm                      Vance Joy performs
6.55pm                      The Living End performs
7.30pm                      Presentation of the premiership team with the AFL premiership cup