It's AFL grand final day and we've got plenty of coverage to keep you going ahead of the big clash on Saturday afternoon. You can send your team a message, find out who's playing where, or take our quiz. But first: Saturday.

► To check out the front pages of Fairfax publications for today, click here

7.45am: Former Victorian Government weed eradicators have made startling new claims of appalling safety standards when working with dangerous chemicals in the Ballarat and wider goldfields region. See the special investigation here. 

7.40am: When AFL grand final action kicks off in Melbourne, Bathurst's fanatical Sydney Swans fans Mark and Liz Kennedy will be in the thick of the action. Their AFL grand final pilgrimage to the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) started on Thursday with a nine-hour road trip south ahead of the decider between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn. Read more.

7.30am: A truck driver has died in a crash between two heavy vehicles on the Hume Freeway near Woomargama. The driver’s truck, believed to be carrying a cargo of magazines, caught fire soon after colliding with a tanker, at about 7.30pm on Friday night. Read more.

7.27am: A remote camera has captured an elusive marsupial that hasn’t been seen in the Grampians for 30 years. Read more.

7.20am: In the NRL, South Sydney have ended the Sydney Roosters’ NRL title defence to surge into their first grand final in 43 years with a stirring comeback win over their century-old rivals. Read more. 

7.18am: A Newcastle boy who died due to morbid obesity was the victim of ‘‘medical neglect’’ at the hands of his drug-addicted parents while health workers and government agencies failed to enact a plan to save him, Newcastle Coroners Court heard on Friday. Read more.

7.15am: Work has started on a development to restore a Bendigo landmark to its former glory. Crews from Hopley Demolition on Saturday started dismantling the interior of the Hopetoun Hotel, at the corner of Mitchell and Wills Street. Watch the video here.

7.10am: A doctor has been suspended from Dubbo Hospital following an investigation into his behaviour and clinical practices. Read more. 

7.06am: After more than 30 years as a security guard in Australia and overseas, John Mokomoko is used to the unexpected. But he said delivering a baby in the Launceston General Hospital car park was something else. Read more.

7.04am: In Orange, staff at the Millthorpe Post office and Pharmacy saved Forest Reefs resident Bill Sovdat from being ripped off $1350 when he almost fell victim to an overseas scam. Read more. 

7.02am: Where is the best place to watch the AFL grand final if you're overseas?

7.00am: In Tamworth, the search is on for the Hottest Tradie. Do you have someone to nominate? See who has entered already. 

6.50am: We'll be fair - one for Sydney, one for Hawthorn. And while you're there, why not test your AFL knowledge? Take our quiz

6.45am: In the US, it's #NationalPancakeDay. Here's some breakfast inspiration:

► The pilgrimage has begun. Up to 15,000 Swans fans travelled down to Melbourne on Friday for the biggest day in Australian football this year. Read more. 

► A cabinet decision to sign off on military action in Iraq is just days away, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed. After meeting world leaders at the United Nations in New York, Mr Abbott was flying home to brief cabinet on Australia's participation in joint military action. Read more. 

► Australia is poised to install some of the toughest penalties in the world for disclosing the identity of an intelligence agent as the first raft of national security reforms are set to pass Parliament. Read more. 

► Vodafone is developing a scheme to store details of the websites its customers have visited for up to 90 days. Read more. 

► If you haven't seen this heart-warming video already, watch little baby Lachlan receive a hearing aid and hear sounds for the very first time. 

► West Africa's Ebola virus outbreak was "preventable" and is on the hands of "complacent" institutions that failed to heed stark early warnings, says an Australian aid worker who has returned from Monrovia. Read more. 

► A coalition of 21 organisations working to promote human rights in Cambodia described Australia's refugee deal as a cynical attempt to place refugees who had already suffered persecution in their home countries into further hardship. Read more. 

► Yes, we know the internet is full of cat videos - but if you just can't get enough, here's one that's gone viral this week. 

Two stranded hikers rescued from Mount Bogong have had a chance to thank their rescuers in person. The three civilian search and rescue teams who brought the duo to safety with police were recognised at a Victoria Police awards ceremony in Wangaratta on Friday. Read more.