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In tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne, bagpipes and a sparkling disco ball appeared to a packed pre-match music performance by British singer Robbie Williams.
Williams joins Delta Goodrem in front of thousands of fans as they prepare for the 2022 AFL Finals between Geelong and Sydney.
Williams was locked in as a headline performer back in July, when he said he was “very excited” to perform at MCG.
He and the AFL teased a star-studded squad for the rest of the finale’s entertainment, and in the weeks leading up to the game there were rumours that he might join Kylie Minogue.
He was set to take the stage with another homegrown pop star, it was confirmed on Thursday in Goodrem.
After Uncle Colin Hunter Jr’s “Welcome to the Country,” the first musical performance of the day was, of course, Mike Brady’s Up There Cazaly.
This wouldn’t be the ‘G’ Finals without him.
Dressed in pink, Williams began his set-up on a golden podium that descended to the ground.
Surrounded by gold-clad dancers, he made his way to the stage in the middle of the ‘G as he performed the hit Let Me Entertain You.
Despite some minor technical hiccups — some backup singers’ mics turned off to call-and-response introductions to rock DJs — Williams and his spandex-covered dancers commanded the crowd.
Ahead of the new album track “Lost” (XXV), Williams told the crowd they would complete “mandatory new songs” together.
After a rousing rendition of ‘Feeling’, he dedicated his next song ‘Angel’ to Shane Warne, the cricketer who passed away unexpectedly this year.
“Love you, Warney,” Williams said of his friend, who called him “one of Australia’s greatest rock stars.”
This is the second cover of the song this year, and Williams dedicated a video performance of the song to Vaughan during his state funeral.
In tribute to the Australian, he then covered John Farnham’s “You Are the Voice”, which he called Australia’s unofficial national anthem.
The bagpipes joined the chorus as archive images of Farnsy flooded the screen.
He welcomed Delta Goodrem on stage with his 2000 hit Kids, the duet he originally performed with the Minogue.
Dressed in a sparkly pink jumpsuit that was more eye-catching than Williams’ own ensemble, Goodrem kept his style in the song, ultimately putting to rest the Kylie rumors.
From there, all eyes are on the real event, and tension builds as the referee enters, the ball is sent and the team enters the hallowed turf.
ARIA champion Katie Noonan played the national anthem after Premier League ambassador Bachar Houli presented the 2022 Premier League Cup.
Halftime Entertainment features G Flip, The Temper Trap starring Budjerah and Ngaiire, Shane Howard’s Goanna, Christine Anu, Emma Donovan, Tasman Keith and William Barton and the Australian Girls Choir.
MCG’s energy is high at its first Grand Final in three years in Melbourne.
One of the biggest games of the year has been marred by a comment by the Hawthorn football club that exposed allegations that key figures at the club had terrorised young Aboriginal players and separated them from their families.
The AFL has committed to an external investigation into the allegations.
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