The AFL Grand Final 2023 entertainment has been locked in, with international rock n’ roll juggernaut KISS to headline the pre-game show.
The AFL in recent weeks has confirmed the full line-up of entertainers to perform both before the game and during the half-time break.
Check out the full list of 2023 AFL Grand Final performers below.
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WHO WILL PERFORM PRE-GAME AS PART OF THE 2023 AFL GRAND FINAL ENTERTAINMENT?
International rock n’ roll juggernaut KISS will perform during the pre-Game entertainment at the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
KISS, and its long-time Australian tour promoter Andrew McManus, stepped in to save the Grand Final entertainment after Kylie Minogue and Crowded House declined AFL invitations at the last minute.
The Rock N Roll Hall of Famers, who are currently touring as part of their global “End of the World” tour, have released 44 albums and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
“It’s an honour for us to be here,” legendary band member lead singer Paul Stanley said on Thursday.
“Aussies are passionate, and certainly about this game. It’s going to be a challenge for us to be louder than the crowd, but we’re going to do our best.”
In a thinly veiled reference to Meatloaf’s underwhelming 2011 Grand Final performance, Stanley said: “We plan on blowing things up … and we promise you there’s no meat loaf on the menu.”
Also featuring pre-game will be William Barton, Australia’s leading didgeridoo player, and Jess Hitchcock, a Melbourne-based Indigenous singer-songwriter who has captivated the Australian music scene with her voice.
The great Mike Brady also returns to the hallowed MCG turf to perform during the retiring players motorcade.
Brady said he’s made a slight tweak to his classic football anthem Up There Cazaly to honour the late Ron Barassi, who passed away aged 87 earlier this month.
“Because of the passing of the great Ronald Dale Barassi … I thought it would be nice to put him in there, so without pre-empting the line … I’ve added just a little bit about Barassi,” Brady said.
WHO WILL PERFORM AT HALF-TIME AS PART OF THE 2023 AFL GRAND FINAL ENTERTAINMENT?
For the sixth time, Australian singer Mark Seymour will perform at an AFL Grand Final, along with his band and a special guest performance from Kate Miller-Heidke.
Seymour said he was thrilled to “sing songs in celebration of our game” on such a big day.
“I’m never more nervous than playing on the turf here,” he said about the MCG.
“It’s a massive event, an incredibly powerful feeling … and whoever’s winning at half-time, you have to absorb that as part of your pre-gig psyche.”
AFL EGM Commercial and Customer Kylie Rogers said: “Mark Seymour is one of Australia’s most talented singer-songwriters. His song Holy Grail is the unofficial anthem of footy finals, it will be an absolute treat to have him perform at half-time for the 100,000 fans in-stadium and the millions watching at home.
“We now have a big international stadium band along with an eclectic and iconic group of homegrown musical talent, ready to put on a fantastic show in and around the biggest game on the Australian sporting calendar.”
WHO WILL PERFORM THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE 2023 AFL GRAND FINAL?
Award-winning singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke will take on the prestigious role of performing the national anthem to a packed MCG.
“It’s a beautiful moment of togetherness,” she said.
“It’s a really gorgeous moment when we can realise that what unites us is so much greater than what divides us.”
AFL GRAND FINAL 2023 RUN SHEET (all times AEST)
12.15pm: Grand Final Sprint Heats
12.38pm: Grand Final Sprint Final
1:31pm: Grand Final Motorcade
1.36pm: Mike Brady performance
1.42pm: Pre-Game Entertainment – KISS performance
2.11pm: Umpire entry and match ball delivery
2.13pm to 2.16pm: Collingwood and Brisbane teams enter
2.24pm: Delivery of the 2023 Premiership Cup by Josh Kennedy, Premiership Cup Ambassador
2.25pm: MC Hamish McLachlan – Intro Welcome to Country
2.25pm: Welcome to Country by Uncle Colin Hunter Jnr.
2.26pm: National anthem performed by Kate Miller-Heidke
2.28pm: Coin toss
2.30pm: 2023 AFL Grand Final commences
