The AFL finally got grand final entertainment right

This year’s AFL finals series has been described by many people as the most open – competition wise – in its 150-plus year history.

Likewise, the AFL has opened up the grand final entertainment with an all-Aussie line-up set to rock the MCG before the bounce and long after the final siren – with Paul Kelly, John Williamson, Tones and I, Dean Lewis and Conrad Sewell all to play a part in the day. Let’s not forget of course Mike Brady, who will perform one of his famous footy songs before the game – as is custom.

The AFL has indeed drawn the biggest names to the mighty MCG in recent years, with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Tom Jones, The Killers, Jimmy Barnes, Ellie Goulding and some acts that didn’t go so well such as the Black Eyed Peas and of course Meatloaf. I would have thought that they truly hit the nail on the head with The Killers’ incredible performance in 2017, but this time the league’s organisers have got it spot on.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

It’s on for young and old this year. Everyone knows Paul Kelly and his hits including From Little Things and Big Things Grow, and John Williamson has been a part of the AFL’s entertainment scene for a very long time.

Toni Watson – also known as Tones and I – is set to sing in front of perhaps the biggest audience she ever has with songs such as Dance Monkey. When she performed it at a recent music festival everyone in the crowd sang along, and I have no doubt this will happen at the big dance.

Honourable mentions also go to Dean Lewis and Conrad Sewell, who have been a long-time feature on commercial radio. Then there’s a question of who might want to do what Jack Riewoldt did with the Killers when Richmond won the flag in 2017, and this is sure to be a talking point over the days that remain in the lead up to that one day in September.