The Eurovision acts who have performed at the AFL Grand Final
- aussievision
- Sep 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2024
Today is the Aussie Rules AFL Grand Final, arguably the biggest sporting event in Australia with almost 4 million viewers watching the 2023 game.
As much as the day is about football, it is also about the entertainment.
Today's Pre-Game entertainment will be headlined by Katy Perry KISS with other incredible acts such as Robbie Williams, The Killers, Tom Jones, Chris Isaak, Sting and Ed Sheeran taking part over the years.
With music playing a large part in the day, it's inevitable that Australian Eurovision acts have been part of the action.
Let's take a look at the other Eurovision and Australia Decides artists over the years who have performed.
1986 - Olivia Newton-John
Hawthorn (110) d. Carlton (68)
The late great Olivia Newton-John was a Eurovision competitor for the UK in 1974 and was a global superstar by the time she appeared at the VFL Grand Final in 1986.
After walking onto the pitch flanked by two giant mascots, Olivia performed 'Waltzing Matilda' as well as the national anthem Advance Australia Fair (which had only become the official anthem two years earlier).
She returned in 2014 to perform the national anthem again.
2000 - Tania Doko (Bachelor Girl)
Essendon (135) d. Melbourne (75)
Australia Decides 2019 star Tania Doko performed a rendition of Waltzing Matilda as part of Bachelor Girl in the 2000 AFL Grand Final.
The group had major success in the late 90s including their 1998 hit 'Buses and Trains' which reached no.4 on the ARIA charts.
2004 - Guy Sebastian
Port Adelaide (113) d. Brisbane (73)
A year after winning Australian Idol Guy Sebastian performed his rendition of Walzting Matilda as well as the national anthem.
His performance may have been overshadowed however by Kath and Kim performing Lady Bump which you can catch at 9:50 mins in (with Kim wearing a t.A.T.u. Eurovision inspired outfit).
2011 - Vanessa Amorosi
Geelong (119) d. Collingwood (81)
Australia Decides 2020 star Vanessa Amorosi had previously performed at the 2001 AFL Grand Final but was featured heavily in the promotion in 2011.
Although she wasn't the main entertainment (that honour went to the much-maligned performance from Meatloaf) she did perform the national anthem stunningly.
2017 - Dami Im
Richmond (108) d. Adelaide (60)
A year after finishing runner-up at Eurovision 2016, Australia's superstar Dami Im performed the national anthem in front of a packed crowd of over 100,000 fans.
This was also the moment of the infamous power stance and stare made by the Adelaide team during Dami's rendition. It didn't help the team who would go on to lose to underdogs Richmond.
2020 - Electric Fields and Sheppard
Richmond (81) d. Geelong (50)
Electric Fields, our Eurovision 2024 entrants and runner-up at the inaugural Australia Decides in 2019, performed at a historic AFL Grand Final in 2020.
Due to COVID-19 the game was moved from Melbourne and played in Brisbane.
Electric Fields performed a cover of From Little Things Big Things Grow with support from Thelma Plum and Busby Marou.
At half time home town group Sheppard (3rd at Australia Decides 2019) performed two of their hits (Coming Home and Geronimo) accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and a light show in the Grand Final's first ever night game.
2022 - Delta Goodrem
Geelong (133) d. Sydney (52)
Whilst Delta herself has never graced the Eurovision stage, she did write Australia's 2015 Junior Eurovision entry My Girls sung by Bella Paige.
Last year she joined UK pop great Robbie Williams as part of his pre-game show set, where the pair performed Kids, his hit 2000 duet with Kylie Minogue.
2023 - Kate Miller-Heidke
Collingwood (90) d. Brisbane (86)
Kate Miller-Heidke, who represented Australia at Eurovision in 2019, performed the national anthem at the 2023 AFL Grand Final. She also returned as part of the half-time entertainment. Also joining her will be singer-songwriter Jess Hitchcock who accompanied Kate on backing vocals during her Eurovision performance.
Notable mentions without footage:
Ella Hooper from Killing Heidi performing in 2002
Jessica Mauboy as part of the Young Divas in 2006
So whoever wins today, enjoy the entertainment - there may be a future Eurovision star in the mix!
Article written by Emma Garrie and Dale Roberts.
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