BRIT Award winner Ed Sheeran, the legendary Sir Tom Jones and Australian treasure Olivia Newton-John have been announced as performers for this year’s AFL grand final at the MCG on September 27th.
“Having spent some time in Australia recently I know just how popular the game is and how big an event this will be,” said Sheeran in a statement. “I understand there will be over 100,000 people in the stadium for the grand final which makes this spectacular sporting event something I’m really looking forward to,” added 74-year-old Jones in a statement.
“I also know that Australian football has really passionate fans so it’ll be great to be a part of the atmosphere and excitement on the day.” Jones and Sheeran will travel to Australia especially for the event.
It was announced that Olivia Newton-John will sing the national anthem, as she did at the 1986 Grand Final between Hawthorn and Carlton. Australian singer and songwriter Mike Brady will also perform in the lead up to the national anthem. Brady will perform a new version of his song “Up there Cazaly”.
Ed Sheeran and Sir Tom Jones will also play at the Virgin Australia Premiership Party, the free fan event that sees the MCG open its gates to the public following the conclusion of the Grand Final each year. The free encore performance by the Grand Final entertainment is followed by the 2014 AFL Premiers being presented to fans for the first time.
This year’s grand final entertainment is a move away from the largely Australian lineup for the last two finals. The 2013 event saw performances from Hunters & Collectors and Birds of Tokyo. In 2012 Tim Rogers, Paul Kelly and The Temper Trap played and 2011 was the year Meatloaf infamously took the stage.
“The AFL finals series is for the fans,” said AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. “The Grand Final is the pinnacle of the AFL competition and as such we want it to touch as many people as possible. In addition to putting a freeze on this year’s finals ticket prices, we have ensured the entertainment on Grand Final day will resonate with a wide spectrum of our fans.”
The league also announced that, so as to allow extra time, the performances will take place before kickoff rather than at half-time.
At the 2014 grand final, North Melbourne great Glenn Archer will present the Norm Smith Medal for the grand final’s best player, having been a recipient of the award himself, and former Hawthorn coach Alan Joyce will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach.
