The AFL is making a bold play to secure one of Australia’s most iconic performers for this year’s grand final, as the league edges closer to a dramatic overhaul of its showpiece event.
League powerbrokers are ‘strongly targeting’ Kylie Minogue to headline the entertainment, with plans also advancing for a twilight start that could transform the traditional pre-match spectacle.
‘If it’s not a twilight grand final this year, I’ll be shocked,’ veteran journalist Caroline Wilson said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
‘The AFL is targeting, among others, but very strongly targeting Kylie Minogue to perform at a twilight grand final.’
The move would mark a significant shift in how the AFL delivers its biggest day, with officials considering moving the entertainment from its long-standing pre-game slot to halftime under lights.
Under the proposal, the halftime break would be extended to allow for a full-scale performance, mirroring the Super Bowl model, and creating a primetime stage for global or marquee acts.
The AFL is targeting Kylie Minogue to headline grand final entertainment amid a major twilight schedule overhaul push
The league is considering moving entertainment to extended halftime under lights, creating a Super Bowl-style spectacle
The AFL is continuing to attract global acts like Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry and Robbie Williams for grand final stages
‘It will be dark at halftime, but the AFL would need to extend halftime, and that is one option they’re looking at, to have the key performer in the dark,’ Wilson added.
The push for Minogue comes as the AFL continues to flex its muscle in the long-running battle with the NRL over grand final entertainment.
In recent years, the AFL has consistently attracted major international acts, including Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry, Robbie Williams and The Killers, reinforcing its reputation as the premier sporting stage for global performers.
Last year’s decision to bring in Snoop Dogg for the 2025 decider drew criticism in some quarters but was widely praised after his performance, once again highlighting the league’s ability to secure headline names.
In contrast, the NRL opted for American singer Teddy Swims, who delivered a vocal-driven set featuring hits like Lose Control and The Door, along with a cover of AC/DC’s TNT.
While many fans praised Swims’ performance, with one declaring ‘NRL finally beat the AFL entertainment’, the comparison with the AFL’s star power reignited debate over which code delivers the better spectacle.
A decision on the grand final start time and entertainment format is expected in the coming months, with the AFL Commission set to weigh up the proposal amid growing internal support.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, long a supporter of the traditional afternoon time slot, is understood to be softening his stance, while senior figures within the league are increasingly open to change.
The NRL went for Teddy Swims in 2025 as the two codes continue to compete over which has the best spectacle
The AFL is considering shifting the grand final from its traditional daytime slot to a twilight start this season
Some fans are backing the twilight shift, while others are blasting the AFL for abandoning the iconic afternoon grand final
However, there are still plenty of footy fans who remain stoically opposed to a twilight grand final.
‘EVERY poll is overwhelmingly for a day GF! LISTEN to the people AFL,’ one fan posted.
‘Another survey the AFL will ignore and wonder why crowds are down,’ added another.
Another fan posted: ‘They just can’t help themselves can they with changing the GF time. It’s not about fans it’s about greed’.
‘The AFL seem pretty keen to find the point that fans will just turn away and look to another sport,’ replied yet another.
But there were some in favour of the change.
‘No issue with trying a twilight grand final. People will love it and the game will be better off for it,’ suggested one footy supporter.
If approved, the shift would not only reshape the grand final schedule but also redefine how the AFL presents its biggest stage, potentially ushering in a new era of primetime spectacle.
‘You’d extend halftime for Kylie, surely,’ broadcaster Craig Hutchison said.
