Grand final revellers have been warned there will be no repeat of the drunken Swan Street free-for-all that caught police off guard when Richmond won the AFL grand final two years ago.

Whether the Tigers win or lose people can still party on Swan Street in Richmond, which will be closed to traffic from 4.30pm on Saturday, but this time around police will be out in their "hundreds" to make sure the carousing is more measured.

Tigers fans celebrating their team's victory two years ago. Credit:Luis Ascui

On Tuesday Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said anyone drinking in unlicensed areas who ignored police instructions to stop could be fined or worse.

"We're not the fun police," Mr Patton said. "We will tell people, if we see them drinking with opened containers of alcohol, we'll ask them to tip it out or stop drinking or seal it, but if they refuse ... under the bylaws I think the fine's roughly around $100."