Harsh Criticism from Footy Fans Over AFL Grand Final Halftime Show

 

Harsh Criticism from Footy Fans Over AFL Grand Final Halftime Show

Footy enthusiasts were far from unanimous in their views regarding the halftime entertainment at the AFL event. After the American rock band Kiss launched the festivities prior to the game's kickoff, spectators were treated to a thrilling first half of football. However, the heightened excitement of those initial two quarters was quickly overshadowed when Mark Seymour, frontman of Hunters and Collectors, and Kate Miller-Heidke took the stage.

Instead of delivering a high-energy performance, the duo opted for a more subdued acoustic approach, which failed to resonate with the crowd. Fans who were watching the performance online were quick to voice their disappointment.

Lachlan McKirdy of CODE Sports expressed, "Why was it so slow? Just play it like the original; it's a classic for a reason." Emily Benammar of News Corp added, "They haven't quite mastered the halftime show, have they?"

These comments were some of the milder reactions; some fans were much harsher in their critique of Seymour and Miller-Heidke for what they saw as a major misstep on the day. One user exclaimed, "What on earth is this? Mark Seymour is ruining his own song. Absolutely awful." Another commented, "Mark Seymour is incredible, and these songs are classics, but this is a terrible rendition. It's like they're playing background music at a wedding to avoid scaring the bride's grandmother."

A third disgruntled fan chimed in, "Why is this the worst rendition of 'The Holy Grail' in history? It's Mark Seymour; it should be electrifying. Someone, please turn it off." Another remarked, "Kate Miller-Heidke is making AFL grand final history, but unfortunately, it's more akin to Meatloaf's infamous performance."

The iconic American rockers headlined the AFL Grand Final and delivered a powerful performance from a stage in the center of the MCG. The show kicked off with an orchestra perched on the venue's roof.

While some fans were critical of the choice of an older-school act, Kiss, the seasoned performers led by rock legend Gene Simmons demonstrated that they could still captivate a live stadium audience.

The AFL faced backlash when Crowded House officially withdrew just 54 days before the season finale. However, it appeared that the AFL's choice was well-founded.

Channel 7's Hamish McLachlan praised the Telstra pre-game entertainment, stating, "Just about as good as it gets for Telstra pre-game entertainment. A world-class act for the world's best game. That was something else. I hope you enjoyed that as much at home as the 100,000-plus people here at the MCG did. A massive thanks to Mushroom Events. I'm told that was the largest staging and production for an Australian sporting event outside of the Olympics and Commonwealth Games ever. A huge effort. It was unbelievable. What a thrill for all these KISS disciples."