Casey Barnes Wants To Perform At The AFL Grand Final

Casey Barnes shared his dream of playing at the AFL Grand Final after it was announced that international pop star Katy Perry would headline this year’s pre-game entertainment yesterday.

The AFL Grand Final, held on the last Saturday of September (the 28th this year) is one of the biggest days on Australia’s sporting calendar.

Before the two best teams of the year play off against each other, ending the season for another year, the AFL locks in a big name to bring attendees some pre-game entertainment. Last year, it was KISS. The game has previously seen performances by Ed Sheeran and Tom Jones, The Killers, Australian acts like Powderfinger, Jet, and more.

It turns out that performing on the big day would be Casey’s dream come true. Sharing a video of himself performing Waltzing Matilda on the grounds of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Barnes revealed that he’d give his right arm to be in Katy Perry’s position.

In a touching Facebook post, Barnes wrote that he’s loved his footy ever since he was a child growing up in Tasmania.

Barnes started playing AFL when he was six years old. Discussing his parents’ efforts in helping him achieve his dreams, Barnes continued, “Footy was everything! Dad would take me on weekends and it was always a dream to maybe play one game on the MCG.”

Adding that he was always an “OK” player, Barnes went on to win a Best & Fairest award playing with the under 18’s team in Devonport. He shared that he played in a premiership with legendary St Kilda Football Club player Nick Riewoldt.

“Then everything changed,” Barnes wrote. “Music came around in my early 20’s and it started becoming a little more challenging trying to balance footy and a music career at the same time so one thing had to go.

“I never did get to play that game at the G but was fortunate enough to do the next best thing and perform there a bit over 12 months ago for the opening round which was an experience I’ll never forget! Just this past weekend I was sitting right at the top of the Shane Warne stand watching my Hawks give the Pies a touch up and there’s just no atmosphere or stadium like it in the world”.

He concluded the post, “THE DREAM now is to maybe one day perform with the band at the AFL Grand Final. So I’m putting it out there to the universe…. because you just never know right?”

Countrytown has reached out to AFL representatives for comment and sent Casey’s wish out to the universe.

Earlier this month, Casey Barnes revealed the epic support acts to join him on his upcoming Mayday Australian tour: Denvah, Claudia Tripp, and The Buckleys.

The tour comes in support of his titular fifth studio album, which arrived back in May on the back of such hit singles as Summer Nights, Miracles, Never Give Up On A Good Time, Boys Like Me and the title track – all of which have made it to #1 on the Countrytown Hot 50 chart.