Katy Perry is facing unexpected controversy ahead of her performance at the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.
The pop superstar’s presence was first announced back in July and was seen as a significant win for the AFL.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The National Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:
However, tensions have arisen regarding her rehearsal schedule, which has limited the Brisbane Lions to just one training session at the MCG, disrupting their plans.
An MCG spokesperson said that rehearsals for grand final entertainment typically take place on the Thursday before the event, so this situation is not unusual.
Discussing the matter on Channel 7 Wednesday night, Lions coach Chris Fagan replied with a smile: “It’s great to see that the AFL has its priorities straight.”
“They don’t allow the team that actually needs to play in the game access,” he said.
Fagan said his team will train at a different venue on Thursday instead.
“Fortunately, we’ve played two games at the MCG in the last five weeks, so we’ve had reasonable preparation in that regard. Having played there last week (against Geelong) was a bonus. We’ll get a captain’s run there on Friday, so that should be fine.”
The Lions touched down in Melbourne a day earlier than last year.
“A lot of the players have been talking about how they feel like it’s already a better routine,” Fagan said.
“With the experience of last year… they seem much calmer this year. I think they know what to expect now.”
Additionally, discussions about Perry’s setlist have emerged, with some arguing that her most iconic hit, “Roar,” should not be performed as it could favour the Lions team.
Perry also wanted to showcase songs from her new album, while the AFL preferred her biggest hits.
A compromise was reached, with Perry set to perform one new track alongside four classics.
In a radio interview, Perry humorously acknowledged the debate, initially claiming she would cut “Roar,” but later stating, “Okay, I’ll play it.”
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on LiSTNR today. The Briefing serves up the latest news and deep dives on topics affecting you, all in under 20 minutes.