TonyK
CibbuanoGrand final motorcade to make a comeback
May 14th 2008 23:35
THE Grand final motorcade will make a comeback after being dumped for a new-age celebration last year.
The AFL has admitted parts of last year's pre-match did not work, including the tribute to retiring players.
The pre-match celebration was widely criticised after a major revamp that saw the traditional motorcade cast scrapped.
Instead, the premiership cup was introduced by a woman floating on a giant balloon and past greats held aloft premiership cups.
Previous retirees had been lauded as they circled the MCG in open-topped cars, but last year they were relegated to a minor role on stage.
AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan admitted the new-age celebrations didn't work.
"I didn't think the way we presented the retiring players worked very well, and maybe the simplicity of the motorcade does work," he said.
"People liked it and it is something we will look at revisiting. People love it and understand it. We tried to over-complicate that and try something different."
Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides, one of last year's retirees denied the traditional send-off, last night threw his support behind the return of the motorcade.
"I got to experience a (motorcade) in my farewell game against Collingwood and it was magnificent. It was such a buzz. It would have been a great experience to have done it on grand final day," Koutoufides said.
"Speaking to someone like Sticks (Stephen Kernahan), he said it was one of the greatest experiences of his life, and that's coming from someone who wouldn't have been too keen on it.
"We walked out on the field, which was a wonderful experience, but it would have been even more special to be closer to the crowd."
The AFL was briefed by event co-ordinator Peter Jones earlier in the month, and agreed the motorcade should return.
Jones has replaced special effects whiz Kerrie Hayes, who had been in charge since 1986.
McLachlan said some things work and other didn't during last year's pre-match entertainment.
"I thought the balloon and the premiership cup theme worked really well. They tried a lot of different stuff last year and some worked, and some didn't. We will go back to the best bits of that, and revisit the things that didn't," McLachlan said.
McLachlan said football broadcasters were still keen for a night grand final but added that there will no no review of the timeslot this year.
"There is no doubt pre-match entertainment would be better at night and you can do more things at night, and it gives you so many more options in terms of the pre-match," he said.
"We know broadcasters would like the grand final at night. We had a good look at it last year, and we won't be revisiting it this year."
The AFL has admitted parts of last year's pre-match did not work, including the tribute to retiring players.
The pre-match celebration was widely criticised after a major revamp that saw the traditional motorcade cast scrapped.
Instead, the premiership cup was introduced by a woman floating on a giant balloon and past greats held aloft premiership cups.
Previous retirees had been lauded as they circled the MCG in open-topped cars, but last year they were relegated to a minor role on stage.
AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan admitted the new-age celebrations didn't work.
"I didn't think the way we presented the retiring players worked very well, and maybe the simplicity of the motorcade does work," he said.
"People liked it and it is something we will look at revisiting. People love it and understand it. We tried to over-complicate that and try something different."
Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides, one of last year's retirees denied the traditional send-off, last night threw his support behind the return of the motorcade.
"I got to experience a (motorcade) in my farewell game against Collingwood and it was magnificent. It was such a buzz. It would have been a great experience to have done it on grand final day," Koutoufides said.
"Speaking to someone like Sticks (Stephen Kernahan), he said it was one of the greatest experiences of his life, and that's coming from someone who wouldn't have been too keen on it.
"We walked out on the field, which was a wonderful experience, but it would have been even more special to be closer to the crowd."
The AFL was briefed by event co-ordinator Peter Jones earlier in the month, and agreed the motorcade should return.
Jones has replaced special effects whiz Kerrie Hayes, who had been in charge since 1986.
McLachlan said some things work and other didn't during last year's pre-match entertainment.
"I thought the balloon and the premiership cup theme worked really well. They tried a lot of different stuff last year and some worked, and some didn't. We will go back to the best bits of that, and revisit the things that didn't," McLachlan said.
McLachlan said football broadcasters were still keen for a night grand final but added that there will no no review of the timeslot this year.
"There is no doubt pre-match entertainment would be better at night and you can do more things at night, and it gives you so many more options in terms of the pre-match," he said.
"We know broadcasters would like the grand final at night. We had a good look at it last year, and we won't be revisiting it this year."
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