Talkin Sport - Jet to perform at the Toyota AFL Grand Final and Centre Square

THE AFL has announced that the internationally-acclaimed Melbourne rock band Jet will perform at the MCG on the last Saturday in September as part of the 2007 Toyota Grand Final celebrations.

Jet will perform pre-match on the MCG, as well as providing post-match entertainment at Centre Square, the corporate hospitality village which will be established for the first time in 2007.

The AFL’s Chief Commercial and Broadcasting Officer, Mr Gillon McLachlan, said the introduction of Centre Square had allowed the AFL to contract a world-class act for football’s biggest day.

“We are thrilled to have Jet perform on the MCG as part of the revamped Grand Final pre-match entertainment and also at Centre Square after the match,” Mr McLachlan said.

“The Toyota AFL Grand Final is the biggest day on the sporting calendar and in recent years the AFL has taken significant steps to build the entertainment in the lead-up to the match, as well as the post-game celebrations.

“This year’s establishment of Centre Square has also provided us with the resources to secure an international act in Jet.”

Formed in suburban Melbourne, Jet burst onto the world music scene in 2003 with their debut album Get Born. The album sold over 3.5 million copies and won many awards, including the 2003 MTV Music Award for Best Rock Video and six ARIA Awards in 2004.

Jet’s second album, Shine On, was released last October and the band is currently touring in Europe. Jet’s members have split football allegiances - brothers Nic and Chris Cester are vehement Collingwood supporters while Mark Wilson and Cameron Muncey are passionate Geelong fans.

Jet's lead singer Nic Cester said: "We're thrilled to be playing at one of the greatest sporting events in the world. Growing up in Melbourne and following the footy all of our lives and getting to play at the Grand Final is every kid's dream. Of course we imagined that we'd be kicking the winning goal on the final siren, but playing a couple of our tunes to 100,000 people before the game itself is the musical equivalent.

"Somehow Jet have earned a reputation for enjoying a night out, so we're happy to add to that reputation and be part of the inaugural Centre Square post-match entertainment the AFL is putting on. We'll be asking for Dim Sims and footy franks on our rider for sure," Nic said.

Mr McLachlan said Centre Square, the village for 4300 corporate guests, would now be held at Punt Road Oval in 2007 and the public live site would move from Punt Road Oval to Federation Square, where the Live Site will run for six days.

“The premiership team – as in previous years – will be presented at the Live Site now at Federation Square and will be the conclusion of six days of free entertainment,” Mr McLachlan

“The Centre Square is a collaborative project with the AFL and clubs working together to deliver an enhanced Grand Final experience. This project is the next step in the development of Toyota AFL Grand Final Week.”