Snoop Dogg to headline AFL Grand Final with Jessica Mauboy and Tash Sultana

Snoop Dogg will headline the AFL Grand Final entertainment at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, joining Australian pop stars Jessica Mauboy and Tash Sultana for a show that organizers hope will captivate a 100,000-strong crowd. On Thursday, the American rapper, 53, was photographed rehearsing with Mauboy and Sultana at the MCG ahead of Saturday’s finals. The trio was pictured on stage with a large cast of backup dancers and musicians, giving spectators a glimpse of the spectacle slated for one of Australia’s biggest sporting events.

The collaboration marks a notable reunion for Snoop and Mauboy, who previously teamed on the 2010 track Get ’em Girls. In photos from the rehearsal, Snoop wore a purple tracksuit paired with a black-and-yellow bomber jacket, while Mauboy wore a maroon studded jumpsuit and matching coat. Sultana appeared in a powder-blue shirt with matching trousers and a baseball cap. The footage underscored a production with layered choreography and live instrumentation as the artists prepared for a performance designed to sit alongside the Grand Final on Saturday afternoon.

The Grand Final itself features Brisbane Lions defending their title against Geelong, one of the marquee matchups of the season. The financial arrangements for the performance have drawn attention, with Fox Sports reporting the event is set to command a substantial fee for Snoop Dogg. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has suggested the league will pay the Drop It Like It’s Hot star around a contemporary seven-figure sum, framing the investment as aligning with a performer whose status includes major global stages such as the Super Bowl and the Olympic closing ceremony. Dillon emphasized that the league is engaging Snoop as he is today—a grandfather and philanthropist whose career has evolved—and that the role fits the Grand Final as Australia’s premier sporting spectacle.

But the decision has not been without controversy. Some critics have questioned the choice to hire a figure with past remarks about LGBTQ issues and lyrics that some deem controversial in light of the league’s zero-tolerance stance on homophobia. The AFL has also faced scrutiny for other recent disciplinary actions, including Izak Rankine’s four-match ban for a homophobic slur during a game in August. While critics argued the league should demonstrate consistency, Dillon defended the choice, pointing to Snoop’s public evolution and his international entertainment track record. He said the AFL cannot vouch for every lyric written or performed by an artist on its stage, and highlighted Snoop’s current public persona and previous high-profile appearances for large audiences.

Snoop Dogg’s visit to Melbourne extended beyond rehearsals. He touched down in the city on Tuesday and joined AFL players Nick and Josh Daicos for a casual kickabout at the MCG. A video posted by the AFL shows the rapper attempting a goal from about 35 meters out, delivering a clean shot that the Daicos brothers watched with evident amusement. In the clip, Snoop can be heard reacting to the moment with enthusiasm, signaling a lighthearted moment ahead of the weekend’s show. The Daicos brothers, known for their performance on the field, appeared impressed by the rapper’s kicking form as they congratulated him after the strike.

The Grand Final entertainment lineup has long included international acts, and this year’s staging follows a string of high-profile performers who have taken the stage in the past. The situation comes as the AFL works to balance a globally recognizable headliner with domestic artist collaborations that resonate with Australian audiences. Snoop Dogg’s performance is expected to be a centerpiece of an event that the league has framed as a celebration of sport and culture, drawing attention from fans across the country and around the world.

In the broader entertainment context, the Grand Final has a history of drawing star power beyond just the match itself. Prior acts including Katy Perry and Robbie Williams helped cement the event’s reputation as a major live music moment within Australia’s sporting calendar. The AFL’s ongoing negotiations and public communications around the show emphasize a pursuit of a moment that can be both a global spectacle and a locally resonant celebration, even as critics weigh the ethics and optics of the association with certain artists.

As attendees gear up for Saturday’s event, organizers and observers will be watching not only the onstage performance but also the broader conversation about inclusivity, artistic collaboration, and the role of a world-facing entertainment platform embedded in a national sporting tradition. The Grand Final, described by many as the best sporting event in the country, is poised to generate headlines well beyond the final siren, with the performances becoming a defining memory of the 2025 AFL season.