In partnership with AFL
As the sun sets on this year’s season, punters around the country are gearing up for the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The biggest sports day of the year is more than just the trophy and sirens, though. Across generations, music has amplified the spirit of the AFL: mateship, camaraderie, celebration.
From explosive Grand Final day performances to local singer-songwriter collaborations, we’re looking back at the AFL’s most memorable musical moments before September’s final.
Supplied AFL Photos
2020 Grand Final in Brisbane
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state, the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final was played outside of Victoria for the first time in its 123-year history.
The league headed north to Brisbane, Queensland, and in a moment of pause and community, the AFL chose an all-Aussie lineup to soundtrack the showdown between Richmond and Geelong.
Electric Fields, Thelma Plum, Busby Marou, and Queensland Symphony Orchestra opened the game with a cover of Paul Kelly’s “From Little Things Big Things Grow”.
Brisbane pop group Cub Sport performed a rendition of Powderfinger’s “These Days”, Sydney trio DMA’S covered their Like A Version hit “Believe” by Cher, while Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale sang his hit “Joker & the Thief”.
The 2020 Grand Final reminded Australians that the AFL is an important part of the music calendar and gave viewers a moment of celebration amidst the pandemic.
The 2021 Dreamtime Game in Perth
A host of iconic Australian artists, including John Butler and Ziggy Ramo, performed at the 2021 Sir Douglas Nicholls round in Perth.
An annual fixture in the AFL calendar, the Dreamtime Game celebrates Indigenous culture and the contributions of Indigenous players to Australian football.
Fostering local First Nations talent, including Sycco and Budjerah, the four acts warmed up crowds before the showdown between Richmond and Essendon Bombers. It was a showcase of First Nations artistry and a reminder to keep cheering for the voices on our shores.
Supplied AFL Photos
The Killers’ 2017 Performance
Since the 2010s, the AFL has begun importing international acts down under for the Grand Final pre-game performance. One of the most memorable was rock act The Killers, performing their greatest hits at the MCG in 2017.
“When You Were Young”, “Somebody Told Me”, and “The Man” echoed across the MCG grounds, with the American rockers performing a Midnight Oil cover, “Forgotten Years”. Of course, the famous “Mr Brightside” was played and revved up the Richmond Tigers to clinch their Grand Final victory.
Plus, who could forget captain Jack Riewoldt joining The Killers on stage to belt out the hit once more after the team’s win?
Katy Perry 2024 Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment Show
Seeing one of the world’s biggest pop stars performing in Melbourne’s blazing spring sun on a Saturday afternoon was undoubtedly a cultural moment.
As part of her comeback and promotion for her first album since 2020, 143, Katy Perry performed her hits at the 2024 Grand Final game.
She belted out “Roar”, “California Gurls”, “Teenage Dream”, and more with arguably the most technical pre-game performance in the AFL’s history.
Tina Arena even cameoed for a duet of Katy Perry’s 2008 hit, “I Kissed a Girl”, and pumped the crowds for the Sydney Swans versus Brisbane Lions showdown.
Senator Briggs and Paul Kelly
Earlier this year, Australian singer Paul Kelly performed with rapper Senator Briggs as part of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round (Round 11) game. The pair sang a rendition of Briggs’ “The Children Came Back,” a powerful song about cultural resilience.
The heartfelt performance showed that the AFL can hold a spotlight on Indigenous stories, ones that reach millions of Australians through their televisions.
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Whether you’re watching in your local pub or gathering friends for Grand Final day, the collaboration between music and sport in the AFL is clear. These memorable musical moments have soundtracked the highs and lows of the sport, and they prove that Australia’s national game is about so much more than just the scoreboard.
Lead image: Supplied AFL Photos
