The following is the time line for the the Grand Final day events including key times for match and TV related activities. All times are listed first in Australian AEST and then in US EDT. This is based on information from the AFL, AFANA, press reports and past history. This story will be periodically updated with late information.
| Start Time AEST | Start Time US EDT | End Time AEST | End Time US EDT | Event | US / Can Network Coverage |
| 10:00 AM | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 10:30 PM | Season in Review / Grand Final Day from the MCG (Relayed from Ch. Ten Australia) 3AW radio pregame begins | ESPN3.com (TV Internet only at this time) |
| 11:00 AM | 9:00 PM | SEN radio pregame begins | Same as above. | ||
| 12:00 NN | 10:00 PM | Gillette AFL Grand Final Sprint heats; K-Rock and Triple M radio pregame begins | Same | ||
| 12:10 PM | 12:20 PM | 10:10 PM | 10:20 PM | AIS Academy Squad and Photograph; TAC Cup presentation and photo | Same |
| 12:30 PM | 10:30 PM | 1:30 PM | 11:30 PM | Grand Final Preview (Relayed from Ch. Ten Australia) | Same |
| 12:55 PM | 10:55 PM | Delivery of match footballs to Umpires | Same | ||
| 1.00 PM | 11:00 PM | On field pre-match set up; ABC radio pregame begins | Same | ||
| 1.10 PM | 1.25 PM | 11:10 PM | 11:25 PM | Preliminary on field warm up opportunity for competing clubs | Same |
| 1:25 PM | 11:25 PM | Stage and sound set in centre square | Same | ||
| 1:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 11:30 PM | 12:00 MN | Pre match entertainment featuring Meat Loaf. Retiring players presentation follows in around the ground motorcade. See list below this timeline. TSN.ca joins the coverage. | ESPN3.com / TSN.ca (TV Internet only at this time) |
| 1:31 PM | 11:31 PM | Team highlights on screen and on banners | Same | ||
| 1:35 PM | 11:35 PM | Meat Loaf performs. | Same | ||
| 1:46 PM | 11:46 PM | Legends, retiring players, medallists, and greats introduced (time approximate) | Same | ||
| 1:51 PM | 11:51 PM | Performance of team songs | Same | ||
| 2.00 PM | 12:00 MN | Pre-match entertainment concludes | Same | ||
| 2:00 PM | 2:08 PM | 12:00 MN | 12:08 AM | Arena cleared and reset, ESPN2 joins the TV coverage. Channel 10 Australia is the lead broadcaster and the commentary team is lead by Stephen Quartermain, Matthew Lloyd, Anthony Hudson and Luke Darcy. | ESPN2 / ESPN3.com / TSN.ca |
| 2:10 PM | 12:10 AM | Aircraft fly over (not confirmed) | Same as above | ||
| 2:12 PM | 12:12 AM | Cheer squads and banners set | Same | ||
| 2.15 PM | 12:15 AM | Umpires enter the arena on cue (Bret Rosebury, Shaun Ryan, Chris Donlon, Matt Stevic [emergency]) | Same | ||
| 2.16 PM | 12:16 AM | Geelong Cats enter the arena on cue & team photo | Same | ||
| 2.19 PM | 12:19 AM | Collingwood enters the arena on cue & team photo | Same | ||
| 2.27 PM | 12:27 AM | Australian National Anthem ("Advance Australia Fair") sung by Vanessa Amorosi | Same | ||
| 2.28 PM | 12:28 AM | Two sirens sound and Toss of Coin | Same | ||
| 2.30 PM | 12:30 AM | 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final commences | Same | ||
| 3:30 PM | 1:30 AM | TSN joins the live coverage. | ESPN2 / ESPN3.com / TSN / TSN.ca | ||
| 3.40 PM | 1:40 AM | (times approx.) Half time (22 mins) – Gillette AFL Grand Final Sprint; NAB AFL Auskick kids perform; Gillette promotion | Same | ||
| 5:15 PM | 3:15 AM | (times approx.) End of match; AFL Grand Final presentations | Same | ||
| Alex Jesaulenko will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning Grand Final coach and Michael Long will present the Norm Smith Medal to this year's best on ground during the Grand Final. | |||||
| Runners up team captain to dais; Norm Smith Medallist to dais; Winning team captain to dais, Premiership medallions presented by NAB AFL Auskick competitors. Premiership Cup presented by either Murray Weideman if Collingwood wins and and Doug Wade if Geelong wins followed by team photo. | |||||
| 5:30 PM | 3:30 AM | ESPN2 coverage ends, other networks continue | ESPN3.com / TSN / TSN.ca | ||
| 6:00 PM | 4:00 AM | Post match events and television coverage concludes including on ESPN3.com, TSN, and TSN.ca. Radio coverage on Triple M concludes, other radio continues. | Radio only from this point | ||
| 6:00 PM | 4:00 AM | After Match Concert begins at Federation Square, performance by Adam 12 | Same as above. | ||
| 6:10 PM | 4:10 AM | Media Conference - Runners Up | Same | ||
| 6:35 PM | 4:35 AM | Media Conference - Premiers | Same | ||
| 7:00 PM | 5:00 AM | All radio coverage concludes. | None | ||
| 7:30 PM | 5:30 AM | Premiers depart MCG for presentation at Federation Square | None | ||
| 8:00 PM | 6:00 AM | Presentation of Winning Team at Federation Square | None |
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, RETIRING GREATS, MEDALLISTS, and AWARDS
Hall of Fame
Horrie Gorringe (deceased)
Nathan Buckley
James Hird
Mark Ricciuto
Michael Voss
Tony Charlton (media)
Retiring Greats
Craig Bolton *
Daniel Bradshaw *
Mitch Hahn *
Ryan Houlihan *
Tadhg Kennelly *
Steven King *
Tarkyn Lockyer *
Simon Prestigiacomo *
Hayden Kennedy (umpire)
Michael Vozzo (umpire)
* in around the ground motorcade prior to match.
Coleman Medallist
Lance Franklin
Brownlow Medallist
Dane Swan
Rising Star
Dyson Heppell
Article last changed on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 - 4:19 PM EDT
