Sacha Baron Cohen rumoured to be grand final entertainment

The footy world is awash with speculation Hollywood A-lister and new Perth local Sacha Baron Cohen will feature at the grand final.

Actor Sacha Baron Cohen is rumoured to be playing a part in the AFL grand final.

Talk has been gathering momentum this week in Perth that the Borat filmmaker will perform in character as late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury at Perth’s Optus Stadium next Saturday.

Baron Cohen, who is married to Aussie Isla Fisher, has been living in Perth since last month after the family spent nearly a year in Sydney.

It all started when a listener called into Perth’s Triple M breakfast show saying they had heard the news from a reliable source in the footy world.

Sacha Baron Cohen is rumoured to be making a grand final appearance, alas not as Borat.

Baron Cohen and wife Isla Fisher moved back to Australia when the pandemic began.

During the chatter it was mentioned that Baron Cohen could sing the Queen hit “We are the Champions”. He was set to star as Mercury in the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody but the role went to Rami Malek, who went on to win an Oscar for his portrayal of Mercury.

The Sunday Herald Sun reported that Perth band Birds of Tokyo would lead the entertainment.

The historic grand final between Melbourne and the Bulldogs is being played in WA for the first time.

Optus Stadium, which opened in January 2018, has a capacity of 60,000 people.

Birds of Tokyo rocked the 2013 grand final alongside Hunters & Collectors and Mike Brady.

Local WA band Birds of Tokyo are believed to be locked in for the event. Picture: Cybele Malinowski

Mike Brady is a grand final entertainment staple.

Legendary performer Brady said he is on hold for the big day.

Last year he performed his anthem Up There Cazaly alone at the MCG.

“I’ve been on hold for quite a while,’’ Brady said.

“There was talk about me going over to WA but in the end it wasn’t practical because of lockdown. A number of ideas have been mooted.

“I feel for the AFL having to keep their options open but if I was a betting man I’d say I’ll be part of it.”

Brady who has been singing Up There Cazaly for the past 42 years, first performed it at Subiaco for the WAFL grand final.

The AFL is expected to make an official announcement this week.