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AFL Preliminary Finals weather: rain Friday, cold Saturday at the MCG

Melbourne will turn on its classic "four seasons in a day" weather in the 24-hour window during which the two AFL preliminary finals will take place at the MCG this Friday and Saturday.

Friday's Melbourne weather

Friday will be relatively warm for September, with a maximum of 22°C which is nearly five degrees above the long-term September average of 17.3°C. But the situation will start to change as we approach the 7:40pm opening bounce for the Geelong vs Hawthorn preliminary final, as a cold front surges across Victoria.

The coldest air from the front is not due until around midnight, but strong wind gusts and potentially heavy showers can be expected during the match, creating challenging conditions for players and spectators alike.

Saturday's Melbourne weather

If Friday began with just a faint a hint of summer, Saturday will feel like midwinter from the get-go, with cold westerly winds. While showers across Melbourne should be mostly light and relatively infrequent, the mercury should only reach around 15°C in the afternoon, with an apparent or "feels like" temperature below 10°C all day.

So if you’re attending the MCG for the Collingwood vs Brisbane match which starts at 5:15pm, it will pay to wear a scarf in your team’s colours, plus a couple of thick layers.

READ MORE (OUR STORY FROM THIS WEDNESDAY): Melbourne activates its 'rain shield', dodging moisture from the northwest

For the rest of the weekend in Melbourne, expect a late shower on Sunday with a maximum of 17°C, and further showers into Monday with a slightly chillier maximum around 15°C.

As for the AFL Grand Final which begins at 2:30pm on Saturday, September 27, it’s too early to predict weather conditions with any confidence. But long-range models currently suggest a period of cool, unstable weather for southern Victoria as a cold front moves in from the southwest. We’ll update you next week.

Our Melbourne forecast is here.

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— AFL (@AFL) September 13, 2025

Footy weather in other cities this weekend

For those interested in the NRL finals this weekend, Canberra will cop the chill and a shower or two from the cold front on Saturday, meaning that the Raiders vs Sharks match which kicks off at 7:40pm at Canberra’s GIO Stadium on Saturday night will be another chilly event for both spectators and players.

A minimum of just 1°C is expected in Canberra on Sunday morning, with a "feels like" temperature hovering very close to zero for much of the match.

The Bulldogs vs Panthers match at 4:05pm on Sunday at Sydney’s Accor Stadium should take place in perfect conditions under clear skies with mild temperatures in the low 20s.

Click the relevant city for our Canberra and Sydney forecasts.

And we’d better not forget the SANFL Grand Final in Adelaide between Sturt and Glenelg at the Adelaide Oval at 2:30pm (ACST) on Sunday, where it will be cool and breezy with showers likely clearing before game time. Our Adelaide forecast is here.

This morning’s 2025 Grand Final Press Conference ????
Watch the full video: https://t.co/OWARBDczzF
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— SANFL (@SANFL) September 16, 2025

Nor should we overlook the WAFL Grand Final between South Fremantle and East Perth beginning at 3:20pm (AWST) on Sunday at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where the weather should be clear and quite warm.

Our Perth forecast is here.