Will Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy be smiling on Saturday? Photo: Getty
Camera IconWill Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy be smiling on Saturday? Photo: Getty Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

What time does the 2018 AFL Grand Final start in Perth?

Staff WriterEastern Reporter

THE AFL Grand Final, the game that stops a nation, will take place on Saturday September 29 at the MCG.

The game pits the West Coast Eagles and Collingwood against each other for the eighth time in a final, and the matches rarely disappoint.

The best places in Perth to watch the AFL Grand Final

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Watch the Grand Final at Optus Stadium

Collingwood leads the count 4-2, with one draw.

In their most recent encounter the Eagles scraped past the Pies with a 16-point win at Optus Stadium three weeks ago.

The Eagles, however, have never beaten Collingwood in a final in Melbourne – drawing and losing at Waverley in 1990, before finals at the MCG in 2011 and 2012.

Collingwood prevailed in a 2007 epic at Subiaco Oval after extra time, although that night the Eagles were without stars Ben Cousins, Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Beau Waters.

The last Saturday in September is traditionally when the AFL’s decider has been played, although in recent years – for a variety of reasons – it has taken place in October.

Bounce down is at 12.30pm Perth time, 2.30pm in the east.

The match will be broadcast live around Australia on Channel 7.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes, and American groove merchants The Black Eyed Peas.

The Black Eyed Peas will perform before the game, while Barnesy – with special guest Diesel – will be bringing the noise post match.

Barnes’ daughter Mahalia will sing the national anthem prior to the first bounce.

The weather forecast for Melbourne on Saturday is a little grey – the forecast is for a maximum of 13 degrees, with a 70 per cent chance of rain and 0-2mm predicted.