Hits, orange dancers and Tina Arena: Katy Perry’s space-age AFL Grand Final performance was unmatched

From the giant dustbuster she rode into the ‘G to a guest performance from a foil-wrapped Tina Arena, Katy Perry truly delivered a Grand Final performance for the ages.

Katy Perry brought the hits, two and a half new songs and a brief appearance from what appeared to be a foil-wrapped Tina Arena in a futuristic inspired AFL Grand Final pre-game show.

Nothing if not game, Perry rode into the MCG cauldron on top a space age silver vehicle that bore a stunning resemblance to Victoria’s new road speed detecting cameras — or in other eyes, a giant dustbuster — as giant CGI helicopters swooped across screens.

Katy Perry arrives for the AFL Grand Final pre-show. Picture: Mark Stewart

Is that a giant dustbuster? Picture: Getty Images

Katy Perry had the crowd screaming as she opened with her smash hit Roar. Picture: Nadir Kinani

The intro to her single Woman’s World could briefly be heard before she quickly got into her big hit Roar.

It was the song she needed to open with, an anthem that brought the crowd with her as she motored around the MCG, before dismounting and transitioning into her song Dark Horse.

As she did so she stripping off an outer layer to reveal a futuristic gladiator inspired breastplate, shorts and deconstructed combat pants.

Perhaps the shorts were a nod to the AFL players about to take to the ground.

The star is known for her out-there costumes, wearing a futuristic look for her performance at the ‘G. Picture: Getty Images

Katy Perry was able to get two and a half of her new tracks into a tight set list. Picture: Getty Images

Balloons, moving sets and of course, fireworks — Katy Perry kept fans on their feet throughout the show. Picture: Nadir Kinani

A new song Gorgeous was next on her list complete with unexpected CGI that popped up on screens and then she really hit her straps with crowd-pleasers California Gurls, Teenage Dream, during which she was elevated on a pole high above the stage and her dancers, and I Kissed A Girl.

Joined by a platoon of dancers — dressed in an orange hue that seemed to take its cue from the GWS Giants jumper — Dark Horse took Perry to her silver swirl stage in the middle of the MCG where she set the rest of the show.

Katy Perry is lifted high above the stage and her dancers mid-show. Picture: Getty Images

A crew of orange men dance with Perry on stage. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It was during I Kissed A Girl that homegrown star Tina Arena emerged onstage, swathed in silver, and did a duet with Perry before they gave fans a tantalisingly short dance remix of Arena’s iconic hit Chains.

In full flight Perry blasted through Lifetimes before bringing the show home with her anthem Firework.

Two icons: Katy Perry welcomes Tina Arena on stage for I Kissed A Girl. Picture: Getty Images

The pair look plucked from the future as they duet Perry’s smash hit. Picture: Phil Hillyard

And yes, there were fireworks, thousands and thousands of them exploding as the song reached its crescendo while material unfolded from the stage to create a giant butterfly on the MCG.

Having had Robbie Williams and KISS perform the AFL pre game show in the past two years, Perry was always going to be a very different proposition for fans. As a TV proposition it was beguiling, curious, spectacular and entertaining.

Home viewers saw their screens fill with computer generated images during the performance. Picture: Channel 7

The stage transforms into a giant butterfly during Katy Perry's performance. Picture: Channel 7

Perry screamed ‘I love you Australia’ as she closed out the set. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Her performance also played well with the packed house at the MCG.

Perry came, she saw and she roared.

With 205m Instagram followers Perry has built a giant fan base around her good times, technicoloured, playful pop which includes hits Dark Horse, E.T., Teenage Dream, California Gurls, Fireworks, Lifetimes, Last Friday Night, Roar, Hot N Cold and I Kissed A Girl.

She is a star with tickets to an Australian concert tour to sell and on Saturday she had an audience of 100,000 at the MCG to impress along with millions of viewers at home.

Perry put on a masterclass this week of how to win over the media playing the cheery, cheeky, daffy star in numerous interviews.

Her charm offensive was nothing short of a masterclass, topped off by a visit to the Melbourne Aquarium to meet Pesto the giant penguin chick.

Originally published as Hits, orange dancers and Tina Arena: Katy Perry’s space-age AFL Grand Final performance was unmatched