NRL out-entertains the AFL yet again

Strongly agree with everyone who: ~ reckons the game - meaning the AFL GF - is the entertainment; ~ could not give a fig about the other so-called ‘entertainment’; ~ could not give a fly’s fart about what foreigners do at their title-deciding games (but am ready to adopt / adapt something if it suits us nicely); ~ reckons that “It’s Time!” that the current AFL CEO was permanently benched and replaced with a football person who respects the game and its traditions, its clubs and their histories, club members’ right to respect for their personal and $$$ commitment to them, and empathy with the millions of fans across the nation outside the incestuous AFL HQ asylum, and who will let the GF clubs’ members into the MCG on their One Day in September. and ~ who despises the PC virtue-signalling and the self-indulgent look-at-me kowtowing to every moronic fakedemic brainfart. There - I feel much better now!!!!

You can't please all the people all the time. There are those celebrating that the AFL has gone Australian/local acts again after dabbling in internationals. The reality is - and while I've heard of and don't mind OneRepublic.......they're hardly a drop everything and turn the tele over just to watch type of act. I still have no idea who Macklemore is.....sounds more like a railway station you might find on the old Bombala line. Both the AFL and NRL really rely on who happens to be in the neighbourhood and can free up the slot in their itinerary. Not many groups/performers are going to pack up and fly out especially. The NRL can take the performers a smidge more seriously - the evening time slot allows for a darkened stadium with show lighting setting the mood. The AFL is a bit like those outside morning show performances in day light where the star looks more and more foolish the more they are dressed up in anything beyond street clothes. For the AFL - the real highlight is the post game - when the headline act kicks into gear in the darkened stadium as the gates are opened and the winners celebrate in style....Jack Riewoldt on stage with the Killers a couple of years ago somewhat of a highlight. Anyway - I'm looking forward to Paul Kelly. Dean Lewis.....I've heard of him but that's not a list of songs for a 100,000 stadium!! Prefer Vance Joy. Anyway - most AFL fans I know have the attitude of "Hurry up and get off - - let's get on with the game".

Actually - and at very short notice for the GF replay after the draw - Lionel Richie was fantastic.......the MCG with fans rather than corporates - it looks and sounded great.

These are from crowd figures in The Australian every Monday. Swans will have equal to 3 NRL games in Sydney. Yes, I look at em every week!

It's all well and good to base your opinions on people you know, but, that would only cover a very, very small percentage of the Sydney population. From the sounds of it you aren't an AFL fan, so you would be biased. I can easily say that most of the people I know that attend Swans matches are from Sydney, but again, it's only one opinion. I think you'll find the Swans are pretty ingrained in Sydney's landscape, especially the east, inner city and north.

Excellent post, cultural cringe is still alive and well. Paul Kelly and Temper Trap played the year after Meatloaf. I’m sure the local acts were a lot cheaper and much better. Can’t wait to hear PK belt out Leaps and Bounds.

Rowdy, your comment, ''That’s why the Swans are the most attended football team in Sydney.'' I am from Sydney, the only people I know who go are SCG Members & expat Victorians. Estimated ex-pat Vics. living in Sydney are more than 300,00, there are plenty in my local Premier Cricket Club. Ex pats I have a beer with mostly seem to like & watch the NRL but are not too keen on Rugby Union. Can you also explain, ''NRL is Politburo football from Moscow circa 1951.'' You have me intrigued.

Paul Kelly is a giant of Australia. The doubters can cringe all they like. When I go to see Neil Young I dont want a game of tennis or ice hockey to breakout. I couldn't give a fig to listen to music if I came to see the footy. Plus long breaks artificially interfere with the game.

That's why the Swans are the most attended football team in Sydney. Unfortunately AFL field sizes are an issue. But overseas paid subscriptions are higher for AFL than NRL. Oh, don't forget the expat Tasmanians, South Aussies, West Aussies and Territorians, like most of Australia. ---- And IAP is right, NRL is Politburo football from Moscow circa 1951.

I have no interest in One Republic, much prefer Paul Kelly however I do think this is a win to the NRL. One Republic have a recent big hit and is going to be much more popular with younger audiences.

At the end of the day, it's just an excuse to take a final pre match loo break, peruse the Record or Big League, stock up on beverages and nourishment and/or find your vantage point either at the ground, at a bar or wherever else you're viewing procedings. No musical act will change this.

Preferred Grand Final performances: 2009 - AFL GF (Hunters & Collectors) 2010 - AFL GF (INXS) 2011 - NRL GF (Kelly Clarkson & Eskimo Joe) 2012 - AFL GF (Paul Kelly) 2013 - AFL GF (Hunters & Collectors) 2014 - NRL GF (Train and Slash) 2015 - NRL GF (Jimmy Barnes) 2016 - AFL GF (Vance Joy, The Living End and Sting) 2017 - AFL GF (The Killers) by a mile over NRL GF (Macklemore) - (as I don't like his style of music that much, even though I support SSM) 2018 - NRL GF (Gang of Youths) 2019 - Toss up between Paul Kelly and One Republic and it's a hard decision to do so. I still like 1 Republic as they might perform Counting Stars, Stop and Stare, Apologize My future 2020 - AFL GF - I want Pearl Jam to perform in GF, NRL GF - Snow Patrol 2021 - AFL GF - Joan Jett, NRL GF - Garbage 2022 - AFL GF - Robbie Williams, Eskimo Joe, NRL GF - Bryan Adams

I don't really understand the problem,and Paul Kelly is the only person I've heard out of all these people. I go to the football to watch the football,I go to a concert to watch music,I go to the theatre to watch theatre,and I go to a goat show to watch goats. Maybe instead of music we could incorporate the Royal Sow into the GF,or a Shakespeare play. Or maybe we could just play it in the State of the team that has earned the right.

Rugby people don’t like footy because they either don’t understand it, find it threatening or both.

I'm an nrl fan but still like afl, comments about any big games being boring are out of touch. I'd be happy with no entertainment because GF day is about the game but can't see how you'd bag aussie icon Paul Kelly.

IAP, your comment, ''The NRL have to do it because the game itself is so boring.'' Most people I know in Sydney,(save for expat Victorians) find AFL boring. I think people from other countries would also find AFL boring. Why isn't AFL only played in Australia?

There's an awful lot of assertion in the article. I don't really understand the writer's reasoning for why One Republic is a more respectful act for the NRL Grand Final than Paul Kelly for the AFL Grand Final, but all I can think is it has something to do with popularity in other countries. If it's something else he probably should spell it out. I've never heard of One Republic, but I'd be pretty sure they're not as well regarded across as broad a range of Australian society as Paul Kelly. Few musicians are, in fact.This article feels like a bit of a throwback to the worst of the cultural cringe, where we measured Australian culture by its validation from overseas.

One Republic is definitely a bigger deal than Paul Kelly, assuming we all still live in late 2007.

I think there's two reasons why the AFL doesn't spend up on grand final entertainment: - 1. footy fans don't really care about it; the game is the entertainment. We don't want our grand final to be Americanised. The NRL have to do it because the game itself is so boring. - 2. More importantly, it'd reduce their profits for the year, which would put a dent in Gil's pay packet. And that is the most important thing to Gil. I can't wait to see Paul Kelly pumping out Leaps and Bounds - having someone with such a love and passion for the game and its traditions will resonate with the people much more than "Shut up, just shut up shut up" ever could.

I watch the Grand Final for the Footy Match; Only music I need: Up There, Cazaly Two Teams Theme's