The biggest day on the football calendar kicked off with a record crowd of more than 3,600 attending the Blackwoods North Melbourne Grand Final breakfast.
 
Among the guests on Saturday morning were Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Australian cricket champion Ricky Ponting, Hawthorn premiership star Dermott Brereton, US comedian Arj Barker and musician Tim Rogers.

Outgoing legendary coach Kevin Sheedy was named football personality of the year, after the four-time premiership coach farewelled football this season. 
 
The Grand Finalists were represented by Hawthorn chairman Andrew Newbold, and Fremantle vice-president Ben Allan.
 
Although the premiership decider promises to be a hard-fought contest, tensions were eased at the traditional event.
 
At his first North Melbourne breakfast as Prime Minister, Abbott entered the arena at Etihad Stadium to the Rod Stewart song Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, a reference to Abbott's tendency to swim in speedos.
 
Victorian premier Dr Denis Napthine was welcomed to the tune of the Pet Shop Boys' song Go West, in light of Napthine's battle to build the east-west tunnel.
 
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick were in attendance while premiership cup ambassador, and former Hawthorn star, Shane Crawford, was also there for the festivities.
 
Demetriou tipped Hawthorn narrowly or a draw, intimating the AFL's preference would be the latter.
 
The AFL Players' Association's push to extend the off-season break for players was highlighted with its boss Matt Finnis entering to the tune of Beastie Boys classic (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party).