Cross joined the Western Bulldogs in the 2000 draft and played 210 games, claiming the club's Charlie Sutton Medal best and fairest award in 2008.

The courageous midfielder then joined Melbourne in 2014 and posted 39 games in his two seasons before taking up employment with the club, which only ended last year when COVID struck.

"It's a tough one, I don't know how to answer it to be honest with you," Cross replied when quizzed on who he wants to win.

"There's so many people at both clubs that I still respect and I'm still good friends with."

Cross played with around six players still on the Bulldogs' list, including Tom Liberatore and Jason Johannisen.

He played alongside Rohan Smith from the club's coaching staff, while he's good friends with the list manager Sam Power.

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The 38-year-old played with around half of Melbourne's list, including inspirational ruckman Max Gawn.

"Pretty much all the guys I coached in the high performance space, obviously I've got a connection with those guys, while I still keep in contact with 'Jonsey' (veteran Nathan Jones, who won't play in the grand final)," he revealed.

So who will win?

"If you're going on form, you'd have to back the 'Dees', how dominant they've been, particularly the run home," he explained.

"It will be interesting to see how they go against a hardened team that's played three do-or-die finals.

"I think the Dogs just, they've got a bit of premiership experience as well, which makes a difference."

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