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Delta Goodrem to perform with Robbie Williams at the AFL grand final
By Meg Watson and Nell Geraets
It’s going to be a huge afternoon of early-2000s nostalgia: Delta Goodrem will be joining Robbie Williams on stage during the pre-game entertainment for Saturday’s AFL grand final. The news was confirmed at a media call on Thursday afternoon, after weeks of rumours regarding a surprise guest act.
Williams himself announced the news, calling Goodrem “the loveliest person – both inside and out; beautiful and incredibly talented”. Goodrem then walked out on to the field with a Sherrin, firing off a perfect kick to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan while wearing hot pink heels.
“Like all us Aussies, we give it a go,” the Born to Try singer said after her impressive punt. “We grow up playing AFL, it’s what we do in the backyard ... So, thankfully that came in handy today.”
Joking that McLachlan was the original guest appearance, Goodrem said she was excited to celebrate the game alongside the audience and pop/rock icon Williams.
“It’s an absolutely full-circle moment coming to play at the grand final with Robbie Williams, who is a history-making, incredible entertainer,” she said, grabbing Williams’ arm affectionately.
The announcement comes just a couple of weeks after Goodrem performed the national anthem at the Brisbane v Melbourne semi-final to much acclaim.
It has, however, come as a bit of a surprise as many fans were expecting Williams to announce Kylie Minogue as his special guest. The Australian singer famously collaborated with Williams on their 2000 hit Kids. And the potential reunion was first teased a few weeks ago when, speaking to The Fox Melbourne, Williams invited the pop star to join him when casually prompted by the breakfast radio hosts.
“I need to ask her,” he said. “Maybe I should do that on this radio show right here, right now. Kylie, please come and sing with me. I’d love it if you did.”
The speculation then reached a peak on Tuesday morning when McLachlan got involved. When SEN broadcaster Gerard Whateley asked him if Minogue would make an appearance, McLachlan – an otherwise composed and articulate speaker – responded with a long pause.
“Umm... No, I don’t know,” he said. “OK, there’s a surprise, we’ll see. There is a surprise. That’s all I can say, and he will be joined.”
Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue at the MTV Europe music awards in 2000.Credit: Reuters/Ian Waldie
Barring any last-minute surprises on the day, it now looks likely he was referring to Goodrem – though it’s not yet clear what the pair will be singing on the day.
Wearing a red, sparkly jacket, his silver hair meticulously spiked, Williams was in good spirits as he spoke of the upcoming performance, joking that the crowds “shouldn’t expect much”.
“I did open the World Cup and that was quite scary to do. That was a big deal, but I think this’ll be like the World Cup, but I’m in Australia, so I’ll be more relaxed,” he said. “I’m honoured to be part of the occasion.”
Although careful not to side with Sydney nor Geelong for fear of “the other half booing [him] when [he’s] singing”, Williams spoke of his excitement when watching the Swans play Collingwood in the semi-finals last week.
Robbie Williams announcing Delta Goodrem as a guest act for the 2022 AFL grand final.Credit: Paul Jeffers/The Age
“[It’s] a sport that is incredibly entertaining. I remember that Channel Four [UK] had the rights to play the game ... It was on a Sunday morning, and I turned it on, and I couldn’t believe how barbaric and wonderful it was,” he said. “It was just like, what on earth are they doing down there?”
Bringing Minogue back into the fold, Williams explained how she convinced him to join the grand final stage after his concert at the Rod Laver Arena in May.
“It was dead easy – kebabs and chocolate. She knew, so she bought me a kebab, she bought me some chocolate, and I was in.”
Talk of he and McLachlan “kebab-ing it up” after the game was floated, but only if they were lamb. And speaking of carbs, Williams shared his own pre-game ritual, which included plenty of hearty food and a massage – similar to the footy stars themselves, he laughed.
Williams’ 19-minute pre-game performance will feature songs spanning his three-decade career, as well as one unknown song from another artist (a fact he revealed earlier this month). Other entertainment on the day includes Australian acts G Flip, The Temper Trap (featuring Budjerah and Ngaiire), Goanna (featuring Christine Anu, Emma Donovan, Tasman Keith and William Barton) and Mike Brady.
The latter, of course, will be singing his 1979 classic Up There Cazaly – a tradition which has continued through the pandemic, with Brady performing the song at an empty MCG in both 2020 and 2021.
With the big dance returning to Melbourne this year, the AFL is certainly keen to put on a big show and Williams and Goodrem seem like a good bet to deliver.
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