Heavy clashes, strong contests, goals, controversial calls and a tight finish. Amazing.
Unfortunately, this is as much of the actual game I will discuss. Apparently just because I thought it was entertaining doesn’t make it entertainment-page worthy.
Luckily for us then, the AFL likes to throw money at big international acts to sing on the stage as a warm-up act for Mike Brady.
This year we had The Black Eyed Peas and Jimmy Barnes. Performing separately, although I would have enjoyed the collaboration.
For those out of the loop, The Black Eyed Peas of the mid 2000s featuring Fergie are no more and instead they had a talented lass named Jessica Reynoso filling in.
They kicked off with the ever-popular Let’s Get It Started and then some new song but I got slightly distracted by will.i.am’s jacket webbing and Taboo’s hair.
Last year I was sitting comfortably in the MCG, watching The Killers, thinking everything was peachy.
But then the Crows lost. And Jack Riewoldt ruined The Killers for me forever, seriously I twitch every time I hear Mr Brightside. But that was still about 100 per cent more enjoyable than this performance.
There’s a possibility I got distracted by some very important netball minute typing before I realised we were at the end of the set.
My favourite part was when they panned to the crowd and someone was trying to sing along but not really knowing the right words.
Nostalgia is great but the NRL Grand Final had Gang of Youths! Do better with local talent Gil.
It wasn’t all terrible because we did have the incomparable Jimmy Barnes, who I had been waiting to see since the Black Eyed Peas walked on stage.
He was everything I hoped he’d be and more but he only played two songs. Flame Trees and Ain’t No Second Prize.
It seems like a slight mistake given people love pub singing along with Barnesy. And he definitely would have had enough of a catalogue to hit the stage post-match and not play any repeats.
Anyway, just some notes for next year.
