Sheahan Ink: AFL grand final entertainment act revealed

The AFL has locked in the entertainment for its all-Victorian grand final — and this act is no stranger to performing before the big game.

Former Collingwood players Gary Pert and Craig Kelly (right).

The AFL grand final entertainment’s headline act has been locked in.

Sheahan Ink can reveal WA rock group Birds of Tokyo has won the coveted headline slot ahead of other well-known local bands.

Premier Mark McGowan told Sheahan Ink: “The AFL grand final is a great opportunity to showcase Western Australia to a national, indeed global audience.

“I’m confident we have a wealth of homegrown Western Australian talent who would be available, and itching for a guernsey on the day.

“This will be the biggest in-person audience for a music event in our state since Highway to Hell rocked 144,000 people in March 2020.

“In terms of television viewers, this will probably be the biggest concert in Western Australian history!

“I look forward to enjoying the spectacle on the day, along with everyone else in WA.”

Birds of Tokyo, made up of members Ian Kenny, Adam Spark, Adam Weston, Ian Berney and Glenn Sarangapany, have achieved incredible success both here in Australia and overseas.

And they have tasted grand final day before, rocking the 2013 event alongside Hunters & Collectors and Mike Brady.

An AFL spokesperson said: “The AFL will make an official announcement regarding Grand Final entertainment this week”.

Ian Kenny from Birds of Tokyo performing before the 2013 grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD GREAT’S $100M SUPERCARS BID

AFL powerbroker Craig Kelly is at the heart of a syndicate set to buy Australia’s premier Supercars motor racing series for almost $100 million.

Kelly and his close mate, racing great turned TV commentator Mark Skaife, could be in charge of Supercars by the time the Bathurst 1000 runs, and perhaps as early as this week.

Their syndicate also includes TGI Sport, the international partner of Kelly’s TLA Worldwide sports marketing agency, and the Australian Racing Group of long-time Melbourne car dealer and Bathurst-winning team owner Garry Rogers and his son Barry.

They will pay between $90 million and $100 million – a third of what Supercars was valued at a decade ago.

Racing great Mark Skaife.

AFL powerbroker Craig Kelly.

Sydney private equity company Archer Capital has been wanting to offload its two-thirds of Supercars for $60 million. It paid $180 million for the stake in 2011.

The Kelly-Skaife syndicate will also buy the other third of Supercars owned by the competing teams for somewhere north of $30 million, promising to make hefty annual payments to the teams to continue racing in the series, which comprises 12-15 events a year around the country.

Another syndicate headed by Sydney marketing wizard Peter Adderton had made a similar bid but withdrew from the contest late last week after talks with the teams.

Motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan and other wealthy individuals were part of that syndicate.

The Bathurst 1000, traditionally run in early October, has been rescheduled to November 7 because of the Covid lockdown in NSW and may yet be pushed to early December.

Kelly, a key defender in Collingwood’s 1990 premiership and nicknamed Ned after the famous bushranger, has two sons in the AFL.

Kelly’s TLA represents a host of players throughout the league as well as other sports stars.

Supercars was run by Gold Coast Suns president Tony Cochrane at the time of the Archer Capital takeover a decade ago.

TGI Sport is headed by former Swimming Australia boss and yachtsman Barclay Nettlefold.

Kelly did not respond to calls for comment.

Adam Cerra is tipped to move from Fremantle to Carlton.

CERRA KEY TO LLOYD’S BLUE FUTURE

Former Fremantle Docker Adam Cerra could be the key to Carlton’s head of football Brad Lloyd remaining at the club.

Cerra is almost certain to become a Blue this off season with speculation the 21-year-old recently purchased a house in nearby Brunswick.

Lloyd was an integral part of getting him to the Dockers in 2017 and Carlton people have told Sheahan Ink if Cerra makes the jump to the Blues it may save Lloyd’s position.

But another Brad is looming to take over the head of football position.

Brad Scott has been touted as the club’s next coach but we hear he could be head hunted to take Lloyd’s role.

Scott is keen on assuming the AFL’s now vacant General Manager of Football Operations but could possibly run Carlton’s football department under a new look administration, with hopes it will be headed up by outgoing Geelong CEO Brian Cook.

Carlton President Luke Sayers said in a club statement released Friday: “Whilst the performance of the entire club has been under review, the Board has now completed all personnel changes.”

Except the minor matter of the club being without a senior coach, a CEO and possibly a head of football.

Footy commentators Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw are in quarantine together. Picture: SCA/Supplied

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw are quarantining in the up-market WA suburb of Mandurah, one hour south of Perth in a beachside abode.

The high profile pair are living in each other’s pockets sharing the property while they undergo strict quarantine measures in order to call the Grand Final for Seven on September 25.

We spoke to BT who said he was thankful of the opportunity but was quick to lament JB’s issues as a housemate.

“We’re not really enjoying each other’s company but we are happy to be here,” BT told Sheahan Ink.

“I’m having to put up with all of JB’s medical issues & problems,” he said with a chortle.

Taylor & Brayshaw have eight more days to enjoy each other’s company before their first taste of freedom on Tuesday.

This will give the duo five days preparation before the big game and to acclimatise to Perth and its lovely surroundings.

Bob Murphy is leaving his role on SEN radio to work for Fremantle. Picture: David Caird

SEN’S LATEST DILEMMA

Popular presenter Julian De Stoop is the bookies favourite to take over from Bob Murphy in what will be a new look SEN drive time show.

Journalist De Stoop leads a high profile group of potential hosts to join Andy Maher in the 3-6pm slot after Murphy accepted a senior role with the Fremantle Dockers.

But an unlikely duo of ex AFL stars could be in the mix if the price is right.

Collingwood premiership stars Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas, who appear on Channel 7’s Heater & Daisy show, could be a left field consideration with one radio executive suggesting station CEO Craig Hutchison should look outside the box to boost ratings and increase humour.

Journalist Julian De Stoop could be in line to take over from Bob Murphy.

The popular presenters have made an immediate impact with their TV show creating noise in a crowded market with their newsworthy items and humorous skits.

Thomas is already aligned with Melbourne radio station rival Triple M, but sources suggest big dollars could woo him across to the AM frequency.

The former AFL stars would bring a wealth of contacts and would help Maher as well as inviting football fans and sports followers to vent their frustration through talkback.

Maher’s role as host of The Front Bar has worked well with sidekicks Mick Molloy and Sam Pang.

Or for a real switch up does De Stoop shift into the drivers seat alongside Shaw & Thomas?

Real VB Man should become a marketing feature at Marvel Stadium.

VB MAN TO BUDDY’S RESCUE

The man who put Victorian Bitter back on the social media map with his viral video helped the Buddy Franklin and wife Jesinta dispose of their trash as they moved into their new palatial palace in the exclusive Rose Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Real VB man, aka ‘Bluey’ or Greg, is often recognised on the street as a result of his VB video and is regularly spotted with his customary VB longneck in hand first thing in the morning.

He once complained to his legion of fans on TikTok that Bondi’s celebrity establishment Icebergs wasn’t open at 8am to serve him.

A bottle shop attendant round the corner recognised him handing him a free cold VB longneck to quench his thirst for his ride back to Sydney’s inner west where he lives.

Buddy and Jesinta moved into their new multi million dollar home earlier this year, which is where ‘Bluey’ came to the rubbish rescue and was fortunate enough to meet the former Miss Universe.

Buddy was on the road with the Swans.

VB has upped their marketing campaigns recently with electric banners on the boundary line marketing boards at Marvel Stadium.

Real VB Man’s video is littered with expletives but the sheer authenticity has endeared him to many beer drinking fans on social media.

The beer maker could do worse than get a 57-year-old retired garbo to promote their gold nectar.

Footy coach Mark Williams and wife Pauline.

THE FINAL STRAW

Port Adelaide’s 2004 preliminary final was so stressful for Mark Williams’ wife she was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after fainting in the stands.

46,978 were crammed into Football Park that night for what would turn out to be an absolute thriller against St Kilda.

Port Adelaide’s Kane Cornes revealed it was the biggest pressure game he was every involved with.

“It was the most hard fought and intense game of football I’ve ever played in,” Cornes told SEN Friday.

“You’ve got no idea the pressure Mark Williams and the footy club was under. It went right down to the wire and we won by 6 points.

“She (Pauline) couldn’t handle it and was taken to hospital.”

Pauline was able to watch the dying minutes from her hospital bed.