Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Roger Vaughan

AFL boss unmoved by Snoop Dogg grand final blow back

AFL boss Andrew Dillon is looking forward to the most "important nine games of the year". (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Snoop Dogg will do a "great job" as the headline act for the grand final entertainment, with the AFL unmoved by the controversy around him.

The reaction to the choice of the American rapper has been largely negative, but AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon is adamant about the decision.

"What I'm looking forward to over the next four weeks is the most important nine games of the year," Dillon told journalists on Monday.

AFL cup
What it's all about. The AFL premiership cup for 2025. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

"Then we'll get to the last Saturday in September and we'll have the two best teams there.

"The grand final entertainment will add to what will be an amazing spectacle ... it will be at a level that we haven't seen for a long time, he'll do a great job."

Dillon was also asked about last weekend's pre-finals bye, with some discussion that it should be moved to the weekend before the grand final.

"It's really served the game well. It allows the teams who are in the eight to really set themselves," he said.

"I'm comfortable with where it is at the moment.

"We're always looking at the structure of our season - obviously we'll look at it. 

Jack Riewoldt
Former Richmond star Jack Riewoldt (C) is the premiership cup ambassador for the AFL finals. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

"But ... it does open up the final eight to be a true final eight, so any team who has made it, has the opportunity if things go their way, to make it to the last Saturday in September."

Another idea is a pre-finals wildcard round and Dillon acknowledged it has some merit.

"It would have added a lot to the season, but we just need to hasten slowly. I'm not ruling it in or out," he said.

Dillon was speaking at the launch of the AFL finals series, which opens on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval when the Crows host Collingwood.

There will be plenty of feeling, especially given Adelaide star Izak Rankine is banned for four games after a homophobic slur against a Magpies opponent.

Dillon would not be drawn on whether there will be extra crowd security at the game.

"There will be a lot of passion in the crowd, but we have the best fans in the world," he said.

Hawthorn great Luke Hodge will present the Norm Smith Medal to the player voted best afield in the grand final.

West Coast's 2018 premiership coach Adam Simpson will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach, while Essendon's Ken Fraser will have the duties with the Ron Barassi Medal for the winning captain.

Retired Richmond star Jack Riewoldt is the premiership cup ambassador.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.