Once again, the AFL announced a Grand Final pre-match entertainment lineup devoid of any Australian acts and once again the entertainment was marred by lacklustre performances and technical difficulties followed by some less-than-generous eviscerations in the press and online.
After witnessing a controversial performance by Ellie Goulding, The Age‘s Leaping Larry wrote that Goulding’s set upheld the AFL Grand Final’s tradition of “$2 shop entertainment” and gave “magnificent inspiration for viewers to take a toilet break”.
The lineup had previously been slammed by Music Victoria, who wrote, “It is disappointing to see the absence of Australian acts on the entertainment line-up announced for the AFL Grand Final 2015. MOR acts Bryan Adams and Chris Isaak and UK electro/pop Ellie Goulding?”
But, proving once again that if you want it done right, you should get an Aussie to do it, the NRL Grand Final was a totally different story, with the general consensus being that Cold Chisel’s performance put the AFL’s entertainment to shame.
Now, granted, Jimmy Barnes and co had the advantage of appearing under cover of nightfall when there’s more of an atmosphere and an actual audience to perform to, but the band’s (totally live) performance is really what brought it home.
“The NRL’s grand final pre-game entertainment starring Cold Chisel and Jessica Mauboy trumped the efforts by the AFL on Saturday,” wrote The Age‘s Jenna Clarke. Barnesy and the boys put on a roaring show in 32-degree heat before an 80,000-strong crowd.
Jessica Mauboy didn’t disappoint either, with a rousing performance of the national anthem that had the entire stadium and players singing along. And unlike Kate Ceberano, who sang the anthem at the AFL grand final, Mauboy knew the words.
