Brendan Fevola links pop megastar Ed Sheeran to pre-match show before Opening Round clash

Brendan Fevola says the AFL is set to unveil British pop megastar Ed Sheeran as pre-game entertainment for the clash at the MCG in Opening Round next year.

The AFL is just weeks away from releasing its 2026 fixture, with the controversial pre-Round 1 experiment set to extend into a third season, albeit with some changes.

Opening Round was designed to give the northern states exclusive spotlight and exposure, but its criticism has been the hole it leaves in footy’s Victorian heartland.

The AFL has been vocal in its commitment to the concept, but has admitted it needs tweaking, with a game in Melbourne set to be added to the two in Sydney and Brisbane.

“It’s going to be Opening Round again, but this time they’re going to involve a big Melbourne club and another club that is a destination club because a lot of players have gone there this year — St Kilda,” Fevola told The Fox’s Fifi, Fev and Nick.

“It’s not a big club, but it’s a destination club now because a lot of players have gone to St Kilda and they’re going to be pretty good next year.

“They’ve got a lot of new players that have gone to the club, they’ve probably got one of the best players in the competition, (Nasiah) Wanganeen-Milera, who just signed for about $400 million.”

It’s a good time of year to be in Melbourne with the footy starting, the Grand Prix at Albert Park — and Sheeran touring.

The English singer is playing three shows at Marvel Stadium the previous weekend before heading to Adelaide for one show on March 5, which is the Thursday ahead of Opening Round’s likely weekend.

Fevola says by the Sunday, he will be back in Melbourne.

“They’re going to play on the weekend of the Grand Prix, so there are going to be a lot of tourists and visitors in Melbourne,” Fevola said.

“It’s going to be a Sunday night game, twilight game. After the Grand Prix finishes, they’re going to play at the MCG.

“Now, one of the biggest superstars in the world is also going to be in town: one Ed Sheeran.

“He’s a massive St Kilda supporter, best mates with Shane Warne, been to St Kilda games, loves St Kilda.

“Word has it that Ed Sheeran is going to open the AFL premiership season and do a concert before the game. He’s going to get on stage at the MCG, sing a couple of songs, a bit like the pre-game entertainment before an AFL grand final, like Snoop Dogg (this year).

“Ed Sheeran’s going to play before Collingwood and St Kilda with the Formula One on, all the tourists, there’ll be 100,000 people at the MCG to watch Collingwood play St Kilda.”

It’s also a long weekend in Melbourne that weekend, with Labour Day the following day, giving the AFL the perfect pocket for a blockbuster night game.

“When we think about Melbourne and the disaster it is at the moment with all the crime that’s going on and the cost of living and all the stuff that’s going on in our state, this is where Melbourne becomes the best city in the world,” Fevola said.

Sheeran and Tom Jones were the headline acts for the 2014 AFL grand final pre-game entertainment.