Geelong claimed its 10th flag in a dominant, one-sided AFL Grand Final – as viewers were left first impressed and then horrified by the event’s entertainment.
The Cats began the match with a stunning 41-6 opening quarter and were never headed, leading 62-26 at halftime before running away with the match in the second half.
The Sydney Swans looked completely overwhelmed as Geelong’s potent forward line took them apart, star full forward Tom Hawkins leading the charge with two goals in the first quarter.
The final result was a whopping 133-52 to the Cats,
Cameron Guthrie, Mitch Duncan, Jeremy Cameron, Rhys Stanley, Mark Blicavs and Isaac Smith of the Cats after celebrate a goal during the 2022 AFL Grand Final
Brad Close of the Geelong Cats celebrates kicking a goal during the 2022 AFL Grand Final
The Cats began the match with a stunning 41-6 opening quarter and were never headed
Swans star Lance Franklin looks despondent as the Geelong Cats went on the rampage at the MCG
Superstar Robbie Williams got the day off to a flying start with a spine-tingling setlist that included all of his biggest hits, as well as a cover of John Farnham’s The Voice.
He also paid tribute to Shane Warne as the cricket legend’s children sat in the MCG stand now bearing his name.
He was later joined by Delta Goodrem for a duet of his song Kids.
One viewer wrote: ‘Best pregame I’ve seen. Robbie is built for that setting. Great start to the day.’
‘Wow! Safe to say the @AFL nailed the pre match entertainment with @robbiewilliams and then @robbiewilliams & @DeltaGoodrem,’ one person wrote on social media.
‘Robbie and Delta singing together was best entertainment to date,’ commented another.
The inclusion of ‘Kids’ in the setlist led to rumours Kylie Minogue would make a surprise appearance but the diminutive pop princess was no where to be seen.
Superstar Robbie Williams got the day off to a flying start with a spine-tingling setlist that included all of his biggest hits, as well as a cover of John Farnham’s The Voice
Williams was later joined by Delta Goodrem for a duet of his song Kids – after rumours he would sing it with Kylie Minogue failed to materialise
Williams described his friend Warne as ‘Australia’s greatest rock star’ as the cameras cut to his grieving son Jackson in the crowd at the world-famous sporting ground.
The pop star also paid tribute to John Farnham – who was recently diagnosed with cancer – with a stirring performance of his signature song You’re the Voice, which had the whole crowd singing along in unison.
Unfortunately viewers didn’t react so well to the half-time entertainment. The most diverse and progressive halftime show in AFL Grand Final history was savaged by viewers as ‘worse than Meatloaf’s’ disastrous 2011 performance.
Australia’s First Nation performers were given the spotlight at the halftime show at the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne on Saturday, but some disgruntled viewers called it a ‘woke’ move designed to ‘tick boxes’.
While Aussie rock band Goanna led the performance with their 1982 hit Solid Rock, they were joined by Indigenous artists including Christine Anu, Emma Donovan, Tasman Keith and William Barton.
The most diverse and progressive halftime show in AFL Grand Final history has been savaged by viewers, with many calling it ‘woke’
Indie rockers The Temper Trap also performed with Indigenous stars Budjerah and Ngaiire.
Adding more diversity to the halftime lineup was nonbinary singer G Flip, who uses they/them pronouns and is currently dating American reality star Chrishell Stause from Netflix’s Selling Sunset.
G Flip opened the performance with a roaring drum solo, before later coming back in to belt out Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl.
Christine Anu and Emma Donovan were then introduced with an incredible didgeridoo solo, which bled into Goanna’s Solid Rock.
While many viewers were no doubt happy to see underrepresented minority groups being given center stage, others called it ‘woke’ and said the vocals weren’t up to scratch.
‘That halftime show was pretty bad, felt like they were trying to be woke. Was it just me?’ complained one.
‘Dreadful halftime show at the @AFL grand final. More about ticking boxes then entertainment! We get lectured to everyday bit over it coming into sport,’ tweeted another.
Christine Anu and Emma Donovan were then introduced with an incredible didgeridoo solo (pictured), which bled into Goanna’s Solid Rock
Adding more diversity to the halftime lineup was nonbinary singer G Flip, who uses they/them pronouns and performed a drum solo before singing Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
‘This woke halftime show was terrible. If you’re going to go woke at least be good,’ raged one.
‘AFL half time entertainment all about pushing indigenous politics. The group is horrendous. So predictable,’ said another.
Earlier this month, the AFL renewed its domestic broadcast deals with pay-TV network Foxtel, free-to-air broadcaster Channel Seven and telecommunications company Telstra, penning a seven-year contract worth a whopping AUS$4.5 billion.
It was quite the change from previous Grand Final halftime shows.
One of the members of Aussie rock band Goanna played with an Indigenous flag guitar
In 2021, alternative rock band Birds of Tokyo performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Before that, Sheppard performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Earlier, AFL fans trying to access the biggest day in footy discovered they had been locked out of the 2022 grand final because Channel 7 decided not to stream the decider through digital services.
Furious supporters hoping to use digital platform 7Plus to watch the decider between the Sydney Swans and Geelong Cats were cut off during the pre-game entertainment show by megastar Robbie Williams.
Instead, they were treated to a best-of collection of clips from Border Force Australia.