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Brendan Fevola has dropped a hint that the AFL could be set to hire Ed Sheeran to play as its pre-match entertainment for its Opening Round in 2026.
Continuing with last year’s tradition, the AFL is once again set to launch it’s new season with an Opening Round suite of fixtures, with New South Wales clubs and Queensland sides set to take on Victorian sides, as the league continues to strive to increase the sport’s exposure outside of Melbourne.
But there are set to be a few twists to this year’s curtain raiser, one being that St Kilda are set to be one of the Victorian sides included in the opening round of fixtures, according to the Carlton and Brisbane great.
The divisive Opening Round has copped plenty of criticism in the past, with many fans left fuming at the AFL for taking footy away from its heartland, Victoria.
However, a big change is on the way which ties in with one of this summer’s big Aussie sporting events held in Melbourne, according to Fevola.
‘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,’ the former Carlton star said during The Fox’s Fifi, Fev and Nick show.
Ed Sheeran (pictured right with Carles Puyol) is reportedly being coaxed to play at the AFL's Opening Round in 2026
Brendan Fevola (pictured) linked the British music superstar to a surprise set, noting that Sheeran is due to finish up his tour of Australia in Adelaide earlier that week
Fevola also revealed that St Kilda could be a new addition to play during the Opening Round bonanza
‘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 re-signed for about $400million.’
Last year, the Swans took on Hawthorn, while GWS took on Collingwood as part of the Opening Round fixture extravaganza.
And the teams who will be competing in this year’s preliminary round showdown will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the AFL set to announce its fixtures sometime in November.
It is also expected that next year’s season will commence on the same weekend as the Australian Grand Prix, which is due to take place at Albert Park on Sunday, March 8.
Coincidentally, British music star, Sheeran, is set to arrive in Australia on January 31 for his tour Down Under, and will be playing concerts in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, right up until March 5.
Fevola believes the AFL are planning on coaxing Sheeran, a Saints fan and a friend to Shane Warne, to stay an extra few days in Australia to get him to perform at the season opener on Sunday night at the MCG.
‘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 comes after AFL chiefs (pictured CEO Andrew Dillon) have copped criticism for taking footy out of Victoria during opening round
Fevola claimed that one game is due to take place at the MCG during the Opening Round schedule
Sheeran (pictured) is also understood to be a big fan of St Kilda and is also a good friend of legendary cricketer Shane Warne
‘Its 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.’f
Fevola, who grew up in Victoria, added that while Melbourne has its issues, with the state notably experiencing a rise in crime, he believes no other city in the world can do live sport like it.
‘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,’ he added.
It came after Snoop Dogg stunned audiences at home and at the MCG this year with his pre-match performance at the AFL Grand Final.
