GWS co-captain Phil Davis started in the AFL grand final against Richmond after a dramatic lead-up to the first bounce.

Davis lined up as selected in defence.

He looked proppy during a fitness test earlier in the afternoon and again as the two teams warmed up on the ground before the national anthem and then the 2.30pm start.

Davis suffered a calf injury in last week’s dramatic preliminary final win over Collingwood, but said throughout the week that he would play.

The Giants were not the only group at the MCG dealing with last-minute issues before the opening bounce.

Ground staff had to re-paint the centre circle after the curtain-raiser earlier on Saturday had messed up the markings.

A leaf blower was brought in to speed up the drying.

With the Giants playing Davis, the two teams lined up as named.

Davis was put through his paces shortly before the final teams were lodged.

Struggling to reach top pace in a searching test, he went down to the rooms then re-emerged for the team warm-up.

Fox Footy commentator Mark Ricciuto posted on Twitter after the teams were named, saying he feared Davis could yet be a late withdrawal.

But assistant coach Lenny Hayes said the Giants had no concerns.

“He just had a fitness test. Looked to be moving well to me,” Hayes told ABC Grandstand.

“I think it’s full steam ahead and he’ll play.”

The Giants had Lachie Keeffe on standby if Davis had to pull out.

Richmond’s 27-year-old recruit Marlion Pickett has been the story of the week after he was confirmed on Thursday for his AFL debut.

He is only the sixth player in AFL history to debut in the grand final and the first since 1952.

Shaun Grigg presented Pickett with his guernsey in the rooms.

It was Grigg’s retirement earlier this year that led to Richmond recruiting Pickett through the mid-season draft.

After the presentation, Grigg was one of the retired players honoured in the pre-game motorcade around the MCG boundary.

GWS bolstered their side with the returns of Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield.